1836.] Notes on the Buddhas from Ceylonese authorities. 327 



the throne of his master ; and this revolution constitutes an epoch of 

 the highest importance ; first, because it happened, according to the 

 Bhagawatamrita, two yeai-s exactly before Buddha's appearance in the 

 same kingdom ; next, because it is believed by the Hindus to have 

 taken place 2100 B.C.; and lastly, because a regular chronology, 

 according to the number of years in each dynasty, has been esta- 

 blished from the accession of Pradyota to the subversion of the ge- 

 nuine Hindu government." In the Cingalese accounts we find Kona- 

 gamma received that protection and assistance from the king Sobha- 

 na*, which his predecessor had received from the king Kshema. In 

 the list of kings of the line of Buddha, of the Ooru or Oorvasu branch, 

 in Colonel Tod's tables, and about the year B. C. 2050, we find the 

 name of the king Sovahana ; and in supposing Sobhana and Sovahana 

 identical, there is neither discrepancy of dates nor designation, for 

 Konagamma Buddha only appeared B. C. 2099, and as there is no 

 letter v in Cingalese, Sovahana would be written Sobhana, that 

 being the nearest transmutation. 



Of Kasyapa, 

 The third Buddha in the present dispensation, B. C. 1014. 

 On Kasyapa visiting Ceylon, he found it called Mada-dwipa ; and 

 the capital Wisala, situated on the west of the Maha-Mewuna gardens, 

 was the residence of the king Jayanta. The people were divided into 

 two hostile parties, the one headed by the next heir to the throne, 

 Samiddho; the other by the king's ministers : the armies had approach- 

 ed each other, and were only prevented from engaging by a dreadful 

 conflict of the elements, accompanied by darkness, and succeeded by 

 showers of fiery sparks. Kasyapa at this time descended from the 

 peak, which was then called Subhakuta, and having succeeded in 

 reconciling the contending parties, was acknowledged as a Buddha, 

 and the Mah-Mewuna gardens were offered to him by the name of 

 Sagara gardens. From Brahmadatta of the Okakaf race, king of 

 BaranasJ, he procured a branch of the Nigrodha tree, which was 

 accompanied by numerous priests and priestesses ; and was planted 

 in the consecrated ground of Sagara, by the king Jayanta, with the 

 ceremonies which had been performed on such occasions by former 

 kings. Kasyapa after converting the people, and visiting the places 

 hallowed by the presence of former Buddhas, bestowed as a relic to 

 his followers, the bathing cloth which he had used ; then giving 

 charge over the 500 principal priestesses to the chief of them Sud- 

 hamma ; and over 1000 priests placing Sarwamanda to maintain 

 religion, he departed from the island to return to Baranas. Regard- 

 * Sobhana. t Okaka, same as Iksbwaka. X Benare*. 



