﻿384 AN INSCRIPTION IN A CAVE 



the month of Magh, and entered the body of Maha- 

 j)ni\r n the wife of Sootah Dannah, Raja of Caila% 7 

 her womb suddenly assumed the appearance of clear 

 transparent crystal, in which Buddha appeared, beau- 

 tiful as a flower, kneeling and reclining on his hands. 

 After ten months and ten days of her pregnancy had 

 elapsed, Mahamaya solicited permission from her 

 husband, the Raja x 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 illu- 

 minations prepared for the occasion. Mahamaya then 

 commenced her journey, and arrived at a garden ad- 

 joining to the road, where inclination led her to walk 

 and gather flowers. At this time, being suddenly at- 

 tacked 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 junc- 

 ture Brahma himself attended with a golden vessel in 

 his hand, on which he laid the child, and delivered 

 it to Indra, by whom it was committed to the charge 

 of a female attendant ; upon which the child, alight- 

 ing 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 circulated of a 

 child being born in the Raja's family. At this time 

 Tapasvui Muni, who, residing in the woods, devoted 

 his time to the worship of the deity, learned by inspi- 

 ration that Buddha was come to life in the Raja's pa- 

 lace : he flew through the air to the Raja's residence, 

 where, sitting on a throne, he said, " 1 have repaired 

 *' hither for the purpose of visiting the child." Bud- 

 dha was accordingly brought into his presence. The 

 Muni observed two feet fixed on his head, and, divin- 

 ing something both of good and bad import, begau 

 to weep and laugh alternately. The Raja then ques- 

 tioned him with regard to his present impulse, to whom 

 he answered, '• 1 must not reside in the same place 



