1847.] On the route of Fa-hian through Behar. 963 



Ram-Gya be Kia-ye and a « li" be equal to as much as half a mile, we 

 should have ten miles south, which would only bring us within six miles 

 of the Vishnupad, four of the Ramsila hill, and twelve of Budh Gya 

 which the others believe to be the holy locality (see Vol. XIX.. Asiatic 

 Researches, p. 187.) It is there mentioned in a note, that there are 

 seven places held sacred called the " Satta Stana," three of which 

 only answer to the description given by Fa-Hian, viz. the two trees and 

 the tank where Buddha was protected from the rain by a dragon : 

 (Seshnag ?) the Vakeels, however, name four, as the only spots now 

 visible : the distances of all are given except of the hill and Bukrowr 

 " (Bagaroo Goun)," this hill is no doubt the same under which is the 

 lake called Moratal. 



Fa-Hian leaves you in doubt as to whether by " pool" (where Buddha 

 performed his ablutions) was meant a pool in the river, or a tank or 

 lake ; the Burmese seem to believe in the latter, though in the Tibetan 

 books the " Nirajuna" (Lillajun) is distinctly mentioned ; but to return 

 to the narrative. 



" Thence going to the north-east half a yeou yan, you come to a stone 

 grotto ; Phou sa entering it and facing the west, sat with his legs 

 crossed, and thought within himself "in order that I should accomplish 

 the law, I must have a divine testimonial." Immediately his shadow 

 depicted itself upon the wall ; it was three feet high ; the weather 

 was clear and brilliant ; heaven and earth were both moved, and all 

 the gods in that space exclaimed, it is not in this place that all the Foes 

 past and to come should accomplish the law." 



Now, before proceeding farther, I must remark, that if Buddha Gaya 

 is the spot meant by Fa-Hian, we must give up all idea of his having gone 

 west from Rajgriha and assume that his route was continued from the 

 Ban Gunga or from Buddha's cave (the Guddeh-clwar) directly west to 

 some deserted place opposite modern Gaya, and then have turned south 



popular estimation, and the yojana will therefore vary in different localities precisely as 

 we find the Kros to do at the present day. From the comparison of the actual distances 

 of well identified places in the north-western Provinces with those given by Fa-hian, 

 Capt. A. Cunningham (Jour. Roy. As. Soc. Vol. VII. p. 243) determines the length of 

 the ancient yojana to be a fraction more than 7 English miles. This will be found rather 

 too much when applied to Fa-hian 's distances in Magadha. Mr. Tumour (Mahawanso, 

 p. 30 of the glossary) makes the yojana equal to sixteen E. miles ; a valuation manifestly 

 excessive. — Eds. 



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