196 Report of the Archaeological Survey. [No. 4, 



descended to the earth with the gods Brahma and Indra by three stair- 

 cases, one of which was formed either of crystal or precious stones, 

 another of gold, and the third of silver. According to Fa Hian, Buddha 

 descended by a staircase formed of the " seven precious things," — that 

 is, the precious metals and precious gems ; whilst Brahma accompanied 

 him on his right side by a silver ladder, and Indra on his left by a gol- 

 den one. But Hwen Thsang assigns the golden staircase to Buddha 

 himself, and the silver staircase on the right to Brahma, and the crys- 

 tal staircase on the left to Indra. The descent was accompanied by a 

 multitude of Devas, who scattered showers of flowers on all sides as 

 they sang the praises of Buddha. 



236. Such are the main points of this curious legend, which is 

 believed as firmly in Barma at the present day, as it was by Asoka 

 2,100 years ago, or by the Chinese pilgrims of the 5th, 6th, and 7th 

 centuries of our era. According to Fa Hian, the three staircases disappear- 

 ed underground immediately after the descent, leaving only seven steps 

 visible. Apparently these seven steps must have existed in the time 

 of Asoka, as he is reported to have been anxious to behold their 

 foundations, and accordingly sent men to dig down to their base. But 

 the diggers " reached a yellow spring without being able to penetrate 

 to the foundation." The King, however, " felt sensible of a great in- 

 crease of his faith and veneration," and therefore built a chapel over the 

 three staircases, and upon the middle one erected a full length statue 

 of Buddha 60 feet high. According to Hwen Thsang's account, the 

 three staircases still existed in his time, (A. D. 634), but were com- 

 pletely sunk in the earth. On their foundations, however, the pious 

 Kings of different countries had erected three staircases, similar to the 

 first, of bricks and stones, ornamented with many precious things. 

 The height of these staircases was about 70 feet. Over them there 

 was a Vihdr containing statues of Buddha, Brahma, and Indra, who were 

 represented leaning forward as if about to descend. The Barmese say 

 that the descent took place at the full moon of Thadingkyut, (October), 

 and that the feet of the steps were at the gate of the city of Thing- 

 ka-tha-na-go, or Singhasanagara. Hwen Thsang adds that the three 

 staircases were placed in a line from north to south, with the descent 

 facing the east, and that they stood within the walls of a great 

 monastery. 



