524 Buddhist Chronology. [Sept. 



" At the same time Kalha'na, well informed as he is in these respects, Las 

 evidently confounded the two periods, and hence assigned to Sa'kya Sinha a 

 date corresponding to at least 1332 B. C. although apparently designating the 

 person who flourished B. C. 542. We may therefore venture to correct his chro- 

 nology with reference to this latter date ; although until we can be satisfied that 

 the Sa'kya Sinha of the North-west was one individual with the Gautama 

 of Magadhd, we cannot venture to attach any thing like certainty to this emen- 

 dation. Some circumstances in favor of the date laid down are adverted to in 

 the concluding observations ; and we may here add, that there seems to be a 

 strange connexion between the circumstances and dates of the Zerdashts of 

 Persia and the Buddhas of India, which deserves a more particular investigation 

 than we have hitherto had materials to undertake. 



" The 2 }assa 9 e relating to the prevalence of the Bauddha faith in Cashmir 

 includes the mention of an individual, whose history is fully as obscure, 



IF NOT AS IMPORTANT, AS THAT OF BUDDHA. 



" Na'ga'rjuna as a Bodhisativa, (see note in page 21,) may be either a reli- 

 gious or a secular character : he was probably the former, as a hierarch, the 

 prototype of the modern Lama of Tibet -, his other title, however, Bhumiswara* 

 may mean a prince, and has probably induced Mr. Colebrooke to translate the 

 text generally thus : — 



" Da'modara was succeeded by three kings of the race of Turuslika, and 

 they were followed by a Bodhisativa, who wrested the empire from them by the 

 aid of Sa'kya Sinha, and introduced the religion of Buddha into Cashmir. 

 He reigned a hundred years, and was followed by Abhimanya." 



After carefully considering all the data accessible to him, Professor 

 Wilson decides on adopting the above Buddhistical record of the 

 age in which these three Turushka princes and Na'garjuna flourished, 

 as the most authentic authority available for making the first adjust- 

 ment in his chronological table ; whereby he reduces, at the termi- 

 nation of his " first period," the date of Gonerda lll.'s reign from 

 B. C. 1182 to B. C. 388, showing an anachronism in the Raja 

 Tarangini of 794 years. 



This circumstance alone, even if no new light could be thrown on 

 this interesting question, would afford a powerful argument in support 

 of the opinions I entertain of the superior accuracy and authenticity 

 of Buddhistical over Brahminical chronology. We should bear in 

 mind, too, that the Raja Tarangini is admitted to be " the only 

 Sanscrit composition yet discovered to which the title of history can 



* " Iswara," (Pali " Issaro,") and " Samilio,^ are often conferred on Buddhis- 

 tical sacerdotal characters who have gained great ascendancy. Vide chap. v. of the 

 Mahdwanso. " Addhdyan sdmanfro me ghare hessali Sa'miko." Chap. xiv. 

 " Gahetd pathawi mihi : Dipe", hessanti Issara'." " This samanero will this 

 very day become the master of my palace." " The land will be usurped by these 

 persons : they will become the lords of this island." (Note by Mr. T.) 



