186 Dr. T. Blocli — Buddha worsJnpped by Indra. [July, 



The Philological Secretary exhibited an Assamese drum or 

 ^^doba" forwarded by F. J. Needham, Esq. 



The drum has been presented to the Society by F. J. Needham, 

 Esq., Sadiya, Assam, who states that it has been in the possession of a 

 Khamti chief for the last 12 years or more. It is a big kettle-drnm, 

 made of brass, shaped like a boiler, and measuring 4' in breadth 

 and 3' 6" in height. A Sanskrit inscription in modern Bengali charac- 

 ters, engraved on its surface, records that the drum was mnde in the 

 paka year 1652 (expressed in words: nayana (2), hana (5), rasa (6), 

 indu (1), and in figures) by the king, the illustrious Qivusimlia, together 

 with his wife. Queen Pramathegvari, and that it weighs 620^ seers. 



The Inscription reads thus : — 



f^NS^ C^ ^t^ ^^«|1 C^ 



Translation: "The King Qrl-Qlvasimha, and the Queen PramatJieq- 

 vari, these two, husband and wife, made this brass drum. The ^aka 

 year 1652 ( = 1730 A.D.). Made of brass (weighing) 620| Sers." 



The following papers were read :— 



1 . Buddha worshipped by Indra : a favorite subject of Ancient Indian 

 Art (with exhibition of photographs). — By Dr. Theodor Block, Ph.D. 



The first photograph which T have the honour to show you, is 

 taken from a fine piece of sculpture, measuring 3' 10" X 2' 8", excavated 

 from the ruins of a Buddhist Stupa in the Swat Valley, and deposited 

 now in the Indian Museum.^ It shows a figure of Buddha, seated 

 inside of a cave on what is intended for the vajrasana or diamond throne, 

 in the attitude of meditating. His head is surrounded by the usual nim- 

 bus, while flames burst out from the cave, indicative of the bhamandala 

 or halo which, according to the Nidanakatha, " resplendent with many 

 colours, proceeded to a fathom's length all round his person."^ The 

 cave evidently lies in a mountain, covered with jungle. This is indicated 

 by the trees on top of . the sculpture, as well as by the animals in- 

 habiting the scene. A host of devas or angels stand on both sides of 



1 These two lines form a ^oka. 



2 1 regret that it is impossible at present to publish this photograph. 



3 Rhys Davids, Buddhist Birth Stories, Vol. i, p. 125; Jataka, ed. Fausboll, 

 Vol. i, p. 89 : ndndviragcisamnjjaldya sar'irappahhdya ... vydmappahhdparikkhepasamu- 

 pahfdhdya. The halo is frequently mentioned in the Nidaiiakatha. 



