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the presence and services of so many deities of superior order at 

 his birth, and on other occasions, a just idea of the importance of 

 his character may be formed, and fully establishes his title to the 

 distinguished rank of an AVATAR. 



" God sent into the world Buddha-Avatar to instruct and direct 

 the steps of angels and of men ; of whose birth and origin the fol- 

 lowing is a relation : When Buddha-Avatar descended from the 

 region of souls in the month of Magh, and entered the body of 

 Mahamaya, the wife of Sootah Dannah, rajah of Cailas, her womb 

 suddenly assumed the appearance of clear transparent chrystal, in 

 which Buddha appeared, beautiful as a flower, kneeling and re- 

 clining on his hands. After ten months and ten days of her preg- 

 nancy had elapsed, Mahamaya solicited permission from her hus- 

 band, the rajah, to visit her father, in conformity to which the roads 

 were directed to be repaired and made clear for her journey ; fruit- 

 trees were planted ; water-vessels placed on the road-side ; and 

 great illuminations prepared for the occasion. Mahamaya then 

 commenced her journey, and arrived at a garden adjoining to the 

 road, where inclination led her to walk and gather flowers. At this 

 time, being suddenly attacked with the pains of child-birth, she laid 

 hold on the trees for support, which declined their boughs at the 

 instant, for the purpose of concealing her person, while she was 

 delivered of the child; at which juncture Brahma himself attended 

 with a golden vessel in his hand, on which he laid the child, and 

 delivered it to Eendra, by whom it was committed to the charge of 

 a female attendant ; upon which the child, alighting from her arms, 

 walked seven paces, whence it was taken up by Mahamaya, and 

 carried to her house ; and, on the ensuing morning, news were cir- 

 culated of a child being born in the rajah's family. At this time 

 Tapaswi Muni, who, residing in the woods, devoted his time to the 

 worship of the Deity, learned by inspiration that Buddha was come 



