246 



Air. B. H. HoncsoN's SIcelcTi of Buddhism. 



the other of tlic " Sapta Buddha Mmitshi," as well as those of other chief 

 samts and leaders of Buddhism, are called Vihdrs. The names of the fifteen 

 Vihdrs of Patan are as follows : Tankal-Vihdr, Tu-Vihdr, Hak-Vihdr, Bhu- 

 Vihdr, Haran- Varna-Mahd- Vihdr, Rudra- Varna-Mahd- Vihdr, Bhikshii. Vihdr, 

 Sdkya-Vihdr, Guhya-Vihdr, Shi-Vihdr, Dhom- Vihdr, Un-Vihdr, &c. (see note 

 32.) In short, if any Bandya die, and his son erect a temple in his name, 

 such structure may be called such an one's (after his name) Vihdr. With 

 this distinction, however, that a temple to an eminent saint is denominated 

 Mahd- Vihdr — one to an ordinary mortal, simply Vihdr. 



To conclude : with respect to the notes — that portion of this sketch, 

 which is my own — no one can be more sensible than I am that the first 

 half contains a sad jumble of cloudy metaphysics. How far the sin of this 

 indistinctness is mine, and how far that of my original authorities, I cannot 

 pretend to decide ; but am ready to take a large share of it to myself. 

 In regard to this, the most speculative part of Buddhism, it is sufficient 

 happiness for me to have discovered and placed within the reach of my 

 countrymen the materials for more accurate investigation, by those who have 

 leisure, patience, and a knowledge of languages for the undertaking; and 

 who, with competent talents, will be kind enough to afford the world the 

 benefit of so irksome an exercise of them. 



But I trust that the latter half of the notes, which embraces topics more 

 practical and more within the range of the favorite pursuits of my leisure, 

 will not be found wanting in distinctness ; and I can venture confidently 

 to warrant the accuracy of the information contained in it. 



NOTES. 



(1) Here a sloca of the &anMm riirima is quoted in the original paper ; and it was 

 my first intention to have repeated it on the margin of tlie translation ; but, upon 

 reflection, I believe it will be better to observe, that the Sambhu Puruna is a 

 work peculiar to Nipiil. Many other Buddha scriptures, however, which are not 

 local, and are of high authority, symbolize the forming and changing powers of 

 nature by the letters of the alphabet ; and ascribe the pre-eminence among these 

 letters to a, u, and ?« — making the mystic syllable 6m, which is not less reverenced by 

 Bauddhas than by Brahmanas. A, the Bauddhas say, is the Vija Mantra of the 



