The Pillar Towers of the British Islands. 



589 



1864.] 



glass, upon a round stone table, placed on a throne adorned with all 

 kinds of precious ornaments. Every day at sunrise, the attendants of 

 the chapel ascended the pavilion, beat the great drum, sounded the 

 conch, and struck the copper cymbals, to collect the inhabitants for 

 worship. The king, and the assembled people offered up flowers and 

 perfumes, and performed their devotions. Each one, according to his 

 rank, placed the relic upon his head, and then retired to his ordinary 

 occupations. The skull bone was then taken back to the chapel, or 

 ' tower of deliverance' and secured. 



The most magnificent tower in the entire continent of India, was 

 constructed by Foe leon sha, in honour of Buddha ; in this his beg- 

 ging pot was preserved, an indispensable and characteristic utensil of 

 the Buddhist recluse. We are informed that the possession of such a 

 treasure induced the king of Yueti to invade the country with a power- 

 ful army, to gain possession of this sacred pot.* In this case the 

 tower was a place of great strength : but such was not always the 

 case, as the towers were of various sizes and forms, according to 

 fancy, or the purposes for which they were intended. They had often 

 seven, nine, or twelve stories, corresponding to fortunate numbers, or 

 to the twelve nidans or conditions of relative existence. In some cases 

 they were erected on spots made sacred by some holy action, as the 

 receptacle of some relic of a saint. When such a Tower was erected by 

 any one directed " by great faith, and the impulsion of a well directed 

 heart," who then established " the ceremonies and worship," he was 

 promised re-birth among the gods ;f the highest state of Buddhist 

 reward in the next world. This tenet is stated to be taken from the 

 sacred book, " of the names and titles of the eight great divine towers." 

 According to this authority, there are upon the earth and in the heavens, 

 a great number of these Towers. This explains why king Ni Kia 

 erected a tower upon a sacred spot, more than forty toises high 

 (about 400 English feet) ; and adorned it with all manner of precious 

 things. So that all who beheld it, and the Temple, admired their 

 beauty and magnificence, to which nothing can be compared. J 



It was considered by the Buddhists to be of the greatest importance 

 to visit and join in worship at the shrines of these sacred Temples. 



If such Towers existed in considerable numbers, and of such a size 

 * Ibid, p. 76. f Ibid, p. 172. % Ibid, p. 74 



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