June, 588 B. C. A few days afterwards, on the full moon of Asárh, or 1st July, 588 B. C., Sákya, clad in his ascetic dress, and with his begging pot in his hand, proceeded to the Isipatana Vihara at Benâres. On his approach, he was recognised by the five Bhikshus who had formerly deserted him, and who were still resolute not to pay him reverence, but under the influence of his benign spirit they bowed down to him with every mark of adoration. Sákya then explained to them that he had attained Buddhahood, and preached to them on the supremacy of Dharmma. In 18. From this time Sákya travelled over the greater part of North-West India, continually inculcating the efficacy of Dharmma, and the vast reward of Nirvána (or final emancipation). the first year of his ministry he is said to have assembled a synod of no less than twelve hundred and fifty sanctified disciples; of whom the chief were Sáriputra and Mangalyána, and the three Kásyapas. 19. The various acts of Sákya, during his long ministry of forty-five years, are too numerous to detail, and are too much mixed up with the fond exaggerations of his followers to admit of any satisfactory selection from them. But they may be taken generally as so many illustrations of the peculiar tenets which Sákya inculcated-amongst which are charity, abstinence, and the prohibition against taking life of any kind. 20. The death of this mortal Buddha took place at Kusinára, in January 543 B. C., when he was eighty years of age. On his death-bed he thus addressed his followers: "Bhikshus! should there be anything doubtful or incomprehensible regarding Buddho, Dhammo, Sangho, Maggo, or Pati-padá,* inquire (now)." Three times did Bhagawá [the Supreme, i. e. Sákya] address them in the same words; but they were all silent. Among the five hundred Bhikshus present, there was not one who doubted, or who did not understand. Bhagawa again spoke: “Bhikshus! I now exhort you for the last time : transitory things are perishable; without delay qualify yourselves (for Nirvána)." These were the last words of Tathágata.† 21. The lower orders of Bhikshus, and all the Mallians of Kusinára, lamented aloud with dishevelled hair and uplifted arms, saying, "Too soon has Bhaganá died! too soon has Sugato died! too soon has the EYE (chakku) closed on the world!" But those Bhikshus, who had attained the state of Arahat, comforted themselves with the last words of the sage, that all "transitory things are perish • Turnour's Extracts in Prinsep's Jour. vol. vii. p. 1007. Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, are the persons of the Buddhist Triad. Maggo, the Sanskrit Márga, HT, "road," "way," was one of the lower stages of initiation in the way of Buddhism. Patipadá, the Sanskrit Pratipada, was the first or lowest stage of Buddhism. + Turnour's Extracts in Prinsep's Journal, vol. vii. p. 1008. able." This very scene is, I believe, represented in one of the compartments of the eastern gateway at Sánchi. Three figures are seated in a boat-one rower, one steersman, and one passenger-all in the dress of the religious class. On the shore are four figures, also in religious garb; one with dishevelled hair and uplifted arms, and the others, who wear caps, with hands clasped together in attitudes of devotion. The passenger is, I think, Sákya Muni, who is represented after Nirvana on his passage over the waters which are said to surround this transitory world. The figures on the shore are a Bhikshu of the lower grade bewailing the departure of Sákya with dishevelled hair and uplifted arms, which, from the description given above, would seem to have been the customary manner of expressing grief. The others are Bhikshus who had attained the higher grade of Arahat, and who comforted themselves with the reflection that "all transitory things are perishable." The difference of rank is known by the bare head of the mourner and the capped heads of the others-a distinction which still prevails in Tibet, where the lower grades of Ge-thsul and Chhos-pa invariably go bare-headed; whilst all the Lámas (or higher grades), includ • Hodgson's Literature and Religion of the Buddhists, p. 151. "The world is surrounded by water,"-" Le tourbillon d'eau qui embrasse les mondes." + See Turnour, in Prinsep's Journal, vol. vii. pp. 1009, 1011, for these instances. See also Plate XI. of this volume. ing the Grand Láma himself, have their heads covered. 22. The corpse of the Great Teacher was escorted by the Mallians of Kusinára with music, singing, and dancing, to the east side of the city. It was first wrapped in a new cloth, then wound about with floss cotton, and again wrapped in numerous other cloths. Thus prepared, the corpse was laid in a metal oil vessel, covered by another, and placed upon a funeral pile of sandal wood. At this moment the venerable Mahá Kássapo, having arrived from Pává, approached the funeral pile. With one shoulder bare (the right), and, with clasped hands, having performed the padakhinán (perambulation) three times; and, after opening the pile at the end, he reverentially bowed down at the feet of Bhagawá.* The five hundred Bhikshus did the same; and the pile was lighted. When the body was consumed, the metal vessel was escorted back to the town; where, with music, song, and dance, and with garlands of sweet flowers, the people for seven days showed their reverence and devotion to Bhagana's mortal remains. 23. After this, the burnt bones were divided into eight portions by the Bráhman Dono (Drona), and Turnour's Extracts in Prinsep's Journal, vol. vii. p. 1012. This act of Kasyapa I believe to have been the origin of the worship of Buddha's feet. The reverence shown to the feet is undoubtedly old, as the feet are represented on the central architrave of the Eastern Gateway at Sánchi, in a procession. distributed amongst those who applied for them. Eight Stupas or Topes were erected over the relics at the following places :-* 1st. At RAJAGRIHA, in Magadha, by Ajáta satta. 2nd. At VISÁLI, by the Lichawi family. 8th. At KUSINÁRA, by the Malliyans. The Moriyans of PIPPHALIWANO having applied too late for a share of the relics, received some charcoal from the funeral pile, over which they built Stupa the 9th. At PIPPHALIWANO; Turnour's Extracts in Prinsep's Journal, vol. vii. p. 1013. The whole of these places, including Allakappo, although it has not been identified, were situated in Tirhut and Bahar.-1. RAJAGRIHA was the ancient capital of Magadha, or Bahar Proper. 2. The ruins of VISÁLI still exist at Bassahr, to the north of Patna. 3. KAPILAVASTU was somewhere between Ayodhya and Gorakhpur. 5. RÁMAGRÁMA was in the neighbourhood of Gorakhpur it was most likely the Selampura of Ptolemy, or Sri-Rámpura. 6. WETTHADIPO was most probably Bettiya. 7. Páwá was to the west of Visáli, on the high road to Kusinára. 8. KUSINÁRA was about equi-distant between Benares and Visáli, or in the position of Kusia on the Little Gandak. 9. PIPPHALIWANO, or the place of the Charcoal Tope, was between Kapilavastu and Kusinára. The people of Visáli are called Passale by Ptolemy. |