1919.] Identification of Three Monuments at Sarnath, 195 
viously mentioned earthen Seal, bearing the legend #leawrem 
aeamRgi vagal, furnishes us with the information that “in the 
Mala Gandhakuti which was situated in the Saddharmacakra 
Vihara.” etc. The age of this epigraph is much anterior to that 
of the Mahipal inscription. Round the chapel in which the Bud- 
dha dwelt an extensive monastery may have gradually come into 
being. That chapel used to be called “ Gandhakuti”’ and the 
whole epee passed by many different names. Our atten- 
tion may be turned again to Hiuen-t-siang’s account for the 
sake of Sept We find there that he also saw ge whole 
monastery and a high building made of stone.'| There was an 
image of Buddha therein, represented in the Dharma cakra bea 
In the traveller's account, one thing appears to be ~ ware 
striking, and on this he seems to lay much stress: “The S 
gharama was divided into eight ere (Sections).”* I ‘eanjeo- 
ture from this that these eight part of the Sangharama de- 
bably this Sangharama having distinct divisions received the 
true designation of Asta mahasthana. It may be noted that 
six distinct — have already been exhumed by modern 
exploration. I have also been informed by a Superintendent 
of the Indian iene Department that probable sites 
of more viharas still lie hidden on the east of the egrcra. No 
excavation has been carried on in that direction. may, 
nevertheless, arrive at these conclusions, that Astamahasthan 
was the name given to the whole Sangharama and Saila gan- 
dhakuti was the name which signified an old_stone building 
situated probably in the middle of the Sanghiirama and there- 
fore called at one time Mila, meaning “‘ central” or “ original,” 
from the fact that the Buddha set up his first residence there, 
and at another time Saila, as it was chiefly built of stone. 
10 
2 OF W. Waiter’ s version—‘‘ This establishment, he says, was in etght 
divisions all enclosed within one wall’’—Watters, Vol. II, p. 50. 
