198 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XVIII, 
wood dressed in bits of stuff.’ (Is this Sarat Chandra Das’ 
Pehar ? 
From all the above it will be understood that I felt con- 
siderable satisfaction when some time ago a Bon idol was 
offered to me for sale by its owner, a local Bon “lama” in 
Ghoom. All the more so as the image was of excellent work- 
manship and decidedly better than many of the modern 
Darjeeling Bazar shops. As the original owner is himself a 
some collateral matter connected with Bon problems. What 
I submit here is the result of extensive inquiries amongst all 
the Tibetans I consulted as likély to be able to throw light on 
the matter. 
The name of the god was given as TINC'A", gsang ba, 
which seems to mean The Secret One, or, perhaps, the Mystery 
God, the god of mysticism, though the word in the ordinary 
language has only the meanings ‘ secret,’ or ‘ mysticism ’ as a 
substantive and ‘to secrete’ as a verb. As we shall see it 
seems a Bon equivalent or counterpart of ANNO AAAT gsang- 
> 
bdag, an epithet of Phyag-rdor, BAT ER, or Vajrapani. 
he image is made of brass, exactly 6 inches high, and 54 
inches in width at its widest point, from crown to crown of the 
two prostrate figures bearing the god. The workmanship is 
good, though not extremely delicate, and the lines are pure 
with fairly refined details. 
The bottom of the image is closed by a sheet of copper on 
which a double or crossed dorje, Feqyy, is engraved. 
Probably the hollow foot contains some auspicious material, 
as usual in Tibetan images. When shaking the image, some- 
thing rattles inside, perhaps some grains of rice. At the back 
a small square piece is let in, slightly under half an inch 
square. This has in all probability served to allow of the inser- 
. . ces ? bese, cal = = 
tion either of the “life-tree, AF] Ac’, or of a mantra, 
SA", which properly consecrates the idol. On a base 
(AS54F, pad-gdan, lotus-seat), the traditional lotus stool, 
two figures lie on their backs. On them stands the god in 
fierce” form, wide-legged and with arms extended. In the 


