SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN. 67 



Originally, and not long after perhaps within the lifetime of 

 Buddha, Prasenadjit, King of Kosala, had a wall or wooden fence 

 erected around the spot, enclosing the stone seat known then, or 

 later, as the Vajrasan on which the Buddha sat in contemplation, 

 and the famed Bodhi-Tree which overshadowed it. A century and a 

 half later Asoka erected a shrine around the Tree and Stone, and 

 surrounded the whole with the famous sculptured sbone railing, part 

 of which has survived to the present day. We know the form of this 

 shrine of Asoka ; for representations of it have been preserved in the 

 sculptures of Barahat and Sanchi. Of the latter I hope to show you 

 a view later on. The later temple, first erected, probably, in the 

 second century, A.IX, was much larger. It underwent many vicissitudes 

 in the course of centuries, its latest restoration having been effected 

 by faithful Burmese and the care of the Archaeological Department 

 of the British Indian Government. 



On the erection of the larger temple the old stone railing of 

 Asoka was removed from its place around the site of Asoka's shrine, 

 which was included within the limits of the newer temple, and 

 was erected around the latter. This stone railing has itself seen 

 vicissitudes ; most of it was removed to serve as building material or 

 otherwise, but portions of it have been recovered and replaced around 

 the restored temple. Here is a view of one of the principal portions 

 which remain (Plate IX., Fig. 1). Note the forms of the railing 

 evidently reproductions in stone of forms originally executed in 

 wood, the rosettes and medallions, and a figure of a Yakshini, or 

 female Yaksha, a species of ogre, on the nearest upright. This railing 

 and some remains of pillars are, it is understood, those of the most 

 ancient specimens of Indian art. 



When the larger temple was built the topmost stone of the 

 Buddha seat, the Vajrasan, was removed outside the temple, and 

 erected on a new platform at the west end. The Bodhi-Tree also 

 a pipal or Ficus Religiosa was planted outside, by the Vajrasan. 

 Here is a representation of it (Plate IX., Fig. 2). The figures 

 underneath it are those of a Ceylonese monk and his acolyte, who 



