274 THE TEMPLE. 



The history of the Sl-pa-i Jchor-l6 as given by the lamas is that 

 Buddha on one occasion plucked a stalk of rice, and with its grains 

 illustrated to his disciples his arguments on the 12 causes of existence 

 and the continuous metamorphoses of animated beings in the six regions ; 

 and that later he personally directed the preparation of the picture 

 in what is now known as the * new' style which was specially intended 

 for the conversion of the king of U-tra-ya-na (? Udhayana) and 

 latterly introduced into Tibet in the 11th century A.D. by the Indian 

 monk Atisha, who had received it from the followers of Phagpa 

 Thogs-med or Arya Asanga. The "older" style, that is, as regards 

 Tibet, is reported to have been the cop}' sanctioned by LOponLu-tub or 

 Guru Nao-arjuna, the founder of the Mahayana system, and a copy of 

 it was brought to Tibet by Bande Ye-shi in the 8th century A.D. in 

 the reion of the Thi-srong-de-tsan, and reproduced in the monastery 

 of Samve. The present picture in the Samye monastery is said to 

 measure about 15 to 20 feet in diameter, and differs from the "newer" 

 style chiefly in the absence of a figure of Buddha in the upper right- 

 hand corner and of the Munis in each of the six regions. 



The Altar and its Objects. 



The altar or dtho-sham'^ occupies the remote end of the nave 

 of the temple. Above its middle is placed the chief 

 The altar. image. A canopy, called ««??2-^2f/ or "sky-country," 



on which are depicted the dragons of the sky, is stretched above the 

 altar, and a large silken parasol, called duk or umbrella — the oriental 

 symbol of royalty — is suspended over the head of the central image. 

 This umbrella slightly revolves in one or other direction by the 

 ascending currents of warm air from the lamps. 



The altar should have at least two tiers. On the lower and 

 narrow outer ledge are jilaced the offerings of water, 

 Its tiers. xicQ^ cake, flowers, and lamps. On the higher 



platform extending up to the images are placed the musical instru- 

 ments and certain other utensils for worship. 



In front of the altar stands the spoutea water-jug chhab-pmn'^ 

 for filling the smaller water vessels, a dish to hold 

 Its accessories. grain for offerings ne-ze,^ an incense-holder p'6- 

 dsin* and a pair of flower vases. And on the right (of the spectator) 

 on a small stool or table is the rice mandala cone, with its three 

 tiers, daily made up by the temple attendant, and symbolic of an 

 offering of all the continents and associated islands of the world 

 according to Hindu and Buddhi.st cosmography, with Mount Meru 

 (Tibetan Ri-rab), the abode of the gods, as the culminating point: 

 for detailed description, see Chapter V, page 320. 



' mchhod sham. | * chhab-bum. | ' nas bzed. | ' spos-Msin. 



