1921.] The Licchavis in Ancient India, 267 
and other musical instruments were used!, flags were flown, 
kings, princes and commanders-in-chief took part in the festi- 
val and spent the whole night in merry-making.* 
It is stated in the Dhammapadatthakatha that they used 
to go to gardens with prostitutes (Nagara-sobhini) and enjoy 
themselves very much.” 
Some young Licchavis were rude in manners.’ They loved 
Gne arts and built many beautiful caityas,* parks and gard- 
ens.6 It is held that they were unbelievers in the Buddha 
and they had their Caityas consecrated to the Yakkhas.® This 
view is incorrect. It is evident from the Anguttara Nikdya' 
that they were devoted to Buddha. When Buddha-was at 
Majjhima Nikdya*® that some Licchavis saluted Buddha 
with folded hands as soon as he was seen by them. Some 
sat silent at a distance from the Blessed One. They were so 
very devoted to Buddha that they are said to have arranged 
a voyage for him by boat. 
They took delight in philosophical speculations about the 
non-cause of sins of beings, non-cause of the purity of beings,'° 
nirvaaa, lobha, dosa, moha, alobha, adosa and amoha.'! 
They discussed among themselves problems dealing with the 
destruction of action, destruction of sensation, means of 
attaining Nirvana, three kinds of sufferings, etc.!* Abstruse 
metaphysical discussions relating to sila, Samddhi., panna 
vimutti, influence of the purity of sila and tapa '* and sublimity 
of dhamma'* engaged their serious attention. They used also 
to discuss the five kinds of rare gems: hatthiratana, Assaratana, 
gahapatiratana, and I tthiratana.!® Dr.B. M. Barua holds in hi 
Prolegomena to a study of Buddhist Philosophy !® that the 
Vajjiputtakas recognise soul and their view of Atma differs 
from the views of Sankhya and the Vedanta. The Licchavis 
rs EE OR aes 
| Samyutta Nikdya (P.T.S.), Vol, I, p. 201.* Dhammapadatthakathd 
Vol, ILI, p. 460. Vajjiputtaka Bhikkhuvaithu. 
ammapadatthakathd (P.T.5.), Vol III, pp. 279-280. 
3 Watters’ Yuan Chwang, Vol. II, p. 79. 
+ Anguttara Nikdya (P.T.S.), Vol. IV, p. 309. 
6 The Life of the Buddha by Rockhill, p. 63. si 
6 Beal’s Life of Hiuen T'stang. ntroduction, p. Xx111. 
1 Anguttara Nikdya, Vol. III, p 239. 
i ikdya, Vol. I, p. ; 
9 Divydvaddna, (Cowell and Neill), pp. 55-56. 
10 Sarnyutta Nikdya, Vol. UI, pp. 68-71. 
it Jol. IV, pp- 
Z Ss p. 261-262 
12 Anguttara Nikdya, Vol. I, pp. 220-222. 
18 eA ,, Vol. IL, pp. 200-202. 
16 i ,, Vol. TIT, pp. 75-7 
5-78. 
15 a ,, Vol, III, pp. 167-168. ee 
i6 Dr. B M. Barua’s Prolegomena to a study of Buddhist Philosophy, 
p. 42. 
