Vol. VI, No. 8.] Discovery of Abhisamayalamkara. 427 



[N.S.] 



In Nanjio's catalogue, ten works are attributed to Maitre- 

 yanatha. The fact that Pancavinsatisahasrika was so early 

 translated into Chinese, coupled with the fact that it was so 

 often translated, shows the popularity of the school founded bv 

 Mai trey anatha in China. In India, too, his doctrines seem to 

 have been very popular, as even so late as the reign of Dharma- 

 pala in Bengal the Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita was com- 

 mented upon by Haribhadra in the light of the teachings of 

 Maitreya, and the commentary is entitled Abhisamayalainkara 

 valoka. In the second or the third century Astasalmsi ika was 

 recast according to the teachings of Maitreya; but in the ninth 

 century a commentary was written for the same purpose. In 

 the commentary it is stated that the division in chapters of the 



original is preserved in the commentary, implying that the 

 commentary is intended to replace the Paiicavinsati Sahasrika. 



In noticing the manuscript of Pancavinsatisahasrika, 

 Dr. R. Mittra could not find that another work was embodied 

 in it. Professor Bendall noticed that there was another work 

 But he thinks it is an introductory work. He didn't grasp 

 that it was according to this small treatise that P. P. has heen 

 recast. 



But he did not grasp why the strange colophon is given 

 there. So the Abhisamayalamkara eluded the research ot 

 two such eminent scholars for nearly 30 years. 



The word Abhisamaya is the same as Abhidharma. Th 

 Hinayanists used the latter word, while the Mahayanists used 

 the former. The word 8 alamkara' in Buddhist literature meant 



exposition. So Abhisamayalamkara means the exposition of 

 philosophy. 



