1892.] L. A. Waddell— Burmese Buddhist Bosaries. 189 



This Stupa is also worshipped by the Nepaleso Buddhists, viz., 

 the Newars — the semi-aborigines of the Nepal valley, and the Murmi, a 

 .is-1 1 iraalayan branch of Tibetan stoek. The name 'Maguta' — pro- 

 nounced ' Makuta ' — is doubtless a contraction for Makuta band liana, the 

 pre-Bnddhist 'crested chaitya' such as existed at Buddha's death at 

 Kusinagara, in the country of the Mall as — a tribe which T believe to be 

 the same which penetrated latterly to the adjoining country of Nepal 

 and there established the 'Mall' dynasties. 



4. Burmese Buddhist Bosaries. — By L. A. Waddell, M. B., 

 M. R. A. S. 



In my contribution on Lamaic Rosaries I made incidental reference 

 to the rosary as used by the Southern Buddhists. I have now, mainly 

 through the kindness of Mr. Monng Hpo Myin of Rangoon, obtained 

 a set of the various kinds of rosaries used by the Burmese Buddhist 

 monks and also some interesting information on the subject. 



The rosary is admitted by the learned Burmese monks or phungyis 



to be of comparatively recent introduction into 



Of relatively recent Burmese Buddhism, where it has been in use 



for some centuries at least. Its exact time and 



mode of introduction is, however, unknown ; but it is believed by the 



Burmese monks to have been unknown in, and not obtained from, Indian 



Buddhism. And in this connection I may note that in none of the many 



Indian Buddhist sculptures, and Ajanta frescoes examined by me — even 



the most modern — have I found a rosary in the hands of the monks or 



as a part of their outfit. My own opinion is, that it was probably 



brought to Burma from India by pilgrims during the latest Tantric 



stao - e of Buddhism about the 11th cent. A. D., when, according to the 



more reliable Tibetan accounts, the rosary held a conspicuous place in 



the mystical and highly impure form of Buddhism then existing 



throughout India. 



Now-a-days in Burma it is quite exceptional to find any monk or 



lay devotee without a rosary ; and the monks 



Rosary in general SU pp , t their use of it by a quotation from 



one of Buddha's own sutras or sermons in 



the collection of the Tika Anguttara Nikdya, which is believed by 



many to date to the first Council in the year 



Reason alleged, for f Budd]ia ' s death, and in which occurs the 



use of rosary. 



following passage : — 



" Uposathan upaioasantena paruparodhapati saw/ufta kammanla 

 "navita rotappa, khayavayagananam karontena vitinamitabhan" Which 

 "may be translated— " Those who observe uposatha should pass their 



