﻿ON SINGIIALA, OR CEYLON, ScC. S3 



The word Bhooddha, in the Palec and Singhalai 

 languages, implies, Univerfal Knowledge or Holmefs } 

 alfo a Saint fuperior to all the Saints, even to the God 

 Maha Brachma; and is underftood in thefe various 

 fenfes by the natives of Ceylon. 



The Bhooddhists fpeak of 26 heavens, which they 

 divide in the following manner. 



ift, The Deveh Lake, confifting of 6: 2d, the 

 Brachmah Loke, confilting of 16; 5 of which are con- 

 fidered as Triumphant Heavens : and 3d, the Arroopeh 

 Loke, confifting of 4. They fay of the virtuous, 

 " That they do not enjoy the reward of their good 

 " deeds, until after having repeatedly died, and ap- 

 peared as often in the fix firft heavens, called Deveh 

 Loke ; in order to be born again, in the world, to 

 great wealth and confequence : and having, at 

 length, enjoyed a fore talle of blifs in the 11 in- 

 ferior Brachmah Lokes, they afcend the 5 fuperior 

 " Brachrnah Lokcs, or Triumphant Heavens; where 

 " tranfmigration ends, and where they enjoy the full- 

 " nefs of glory, and the pureft happinefs." 



Bhooddka, before his appearance as man, was a 

 God, and the Supreme of all the Gods. At the fe- 

 licitations of many of the Gods he defcended on earth, 

 and was frequently born as a man, in which charafter 

 he excrcifed every pofTible virtue, by extraordinary 

 inftances of felf-denial and piety. He was at length 

 born* of Mahamaya Devee^ after a pregnancy of 

 ,10 months',, and had for father Sooddode'neh Raja. 

 He lived happily with his queen Yassodera, and 

 40,000 concubines, for 31 years. The fix next he 

 paffed in the midft of wilderneffes, qualifying him- 

 feif to be a Bhooddha. At the clofe of this period, 

 his calling became manifeft to the world, and he 



VOL. VII. C exercifed 



* In ihc kingdom or country called Guviba tteeua, Madda. Def:^ 

 and the city of Kimbooi watpooree^ 



