﻿34 OK SINGHALA5 OR CEYLON, 



exercifed his functions as Bhooddha for 45 years. 

 He died in Coofesviarapcoree^ at the Court of Mal- 

 LELEH Raja. Tuefday, the 15th of May ; from vhich 

 period the Bkooddha Waroos£h, or aera of Bhood- 

 dha, is dated, vhich now (A. C. 1797} amounts to 

 2339 years. 



Bhooddha is not, properly fpeaking, confidered 

 as a God, but as having been born man, and in the 

 end of time arrived at the dignity of a Bhooddha, 

 on account of his great virtues, and extraordinary 

 good qualities. The title of Bhooddha was not con- 

 ferred on him by any Superior Power; he adopted 

 it by his own fovereign will, in the fame manner as 

 he became man, both of which events were predicted 

 ages before. Bhooddha, after his death, afcended to 

 the Hall of Glory, called Mooktzi, otherwife Nirgoo- 

 zuane, which is a place above, and exceeding in 

 magnificence, the 26th heaven; there he will live for 

 ever, in happinefs, and incorruptibility, never to be 

 born again in the world; where his doctrine is at pre- 

 fent extant, and will continue in all its fplendour for 

 5000 vears, according to his own prophecy. Long 

 nfter the lapfe of this period of 50CO years, another 

 Bhooddha, named Maitree Bhooddha, will be 

 born : the direftion or vicegerency of Maha Brachma, 

 \dio, as the Supreme of all the Gods, has the parti- 

 cular guardianfhip of the world, will ceafe after an 

 infinite number of ages, when the univerfe will perifh, 

 and another fucceed to it. Maha Brachma will then 

 advance by degrees through 17 heavens, which are 

 above the 9, in the uppermoft of which he now re- 

 fides, until he at length acquires all the qualifications 

 to become a Bhooddha. 



The learned Singhalais do not acknowledge, in their 

 writings, a Supreme Being, prefidingover, and the au- 

 thor of the univerfe. They advert only to a Saham- 

 PATTEt Maha Brachma, who is the firft and Supreme 

 of all the Gods, and fav, that he, as well as the 



hoft 



