3837.] Examination of the Pdli Buddhistkal Annals. 515 



wasso there, or the prohibition of keeping wasso at Rdjagaha by any other bhik- 

 khus, may appear proper, let him remain silent : to whomsoever (the deci- 

 sion) may not be acceptable, let him speak out." 



" By (the silence of) the priesthood it is decided that these five hundred 

 priests are selected, for the purpose of holding a convocation at Rdjagaha f 

 keeping the wasso there, and interdicting all other bhikkhus from keeping wasso 

 in Rdjagaha. To the priesthood (this arrangement) is acceptable ; on that 

 account alone they are silent. T shall act accordingly." 



This kammawdchd took place on the twenty. first day after the parinibbdnan of 

 Tathdgato. Bhagawa' expired on the full moon day of the month Wesdkho 

 at dawn. For seven days they made offerings of aromatic drugs, flowers, &c 

 To these seven days were given the appellation " Sddhukllanadiwasa" (joyous, 

 festival days). From that period for seven days, (i. e. during the second week,) 

 the fire (applied) to the funeral pile would not ignite. For (the last) seven days 

 (the cremation having been at length effected) having lined the sant/idgdra hall 

 (at Kusindrd) with lances, making it resemble the grating of a cage, they held 

 a festival of offerings to his dhdtu (relics.) 



At the lapse of twenty-one days on the fifth day of the increasing moon of 

 the month Jettho the relics were divided for distribution. 



On this very day of the distribution of the dhdtu, to the assembled priesthood, 

 (Maha'kassapo) imparting the reproach made by Sabhaddo who was ordained 

 in his dotage, and proceeding to make his selection of bhikkhus in manner 

 above detailed, adopted the aforesaid kammawdchd. 



Having recognized this kammawdchd the th£ro (Maha'kassafo) thus address- 

 ed the bhikkhus. " Beloved, ye have leisure now for forty days. After that it 

 will not be permitted to plead ' we have such and such excuses.' On that ac- 

 count, in this interval, whether it be an excuse in reference to any person being 

 ill, an excuse in reference to your preceptor or ordaining superior, or in refer- 

 ence to your mother or father, or getting a refection dish, or a robe made, 

 setting all such excuses aside, complete whatever requires to be done." 



The Atthahathd then proceeds to state that in that interval the 

 th^ros dispersed in different directions, for the purpose of consoling 

 the population of India, afflicted at the death of Buddho : Maha'kas- 

 sapo, repairing to Rdjagaha and A'nando to Sdwatthi ; and at the ap- 

 pointed time reassembled at Rdjagaha. The narrative is thus resumed. 

 They on the day of the full moon of Asdlhi, having held an uposatho (at Rdja- 

 gaha) ; on the first day after the full moon, assembling together commenced to 

 keep their wasso. 



At that period there were eighteen great wihdros environing Rdjagaha and they 

 were all filled with rubbish which had fallen into, and accumulated in them*, 

 (during the absence of the bhikkhus.) On account of the (approaching predicted) 

 parinibbdnan (of Buddho), all the bhikkhus, each carrying his own refection dish 

 and robe, and abandoning their wihdros and parivenos had departed. 



* It will be subsequently seen that this congregation around Buddho took place 

 three months before his predicted death. The wiharos at this period, therefore, 

 had been left unoccupied for three months before, and sixty-one days after his death. 



