1848.] Gleanings in Buddhism. 73 



" Buddha next weighed his mother in the balance against the Pal 

 (personified), and having found the beam equipoised, he set forth on his 

 return ; just three months subsequently to his arrival, when Indra 

 learned his intention he summoned to his presence Mattuli, and directed 

 him to prepare a golden ladder, which might reach from the gate of his 

 heaven down to Jumbo Dwip." 



This may remind us of the armillary sphere of Zoroaster and of 

 Jacob's ladder. "On the 16th day of the eleventh month Buddha began 

 his descent. The procession befitted the splendor and dignity of Indra' s 

 court. This Devatta himself accompanied it, bearing on his shoulder 

 the holy Pat'ha or vase. The Brahma, from the heavens of the Brah- 

 ma Pari Sachcha, the Brahma Parohita, and the Maha Brahma, also 

 attended, sending forth loud blasts from their conch shells, or sanghd. 



When the great Saviour reached the earth this grand cavalcade 

 of ministering Devattas departed, and Buddha was welcomed back by a 

 mighty concourse of all ranks of the people, eager to listen to his dis- 

 courses on virtue and religion. Such is (observes the writer) the effi- 

 cacy of the Pali, that several Buddhist Priests, who had retired to a cave 

 jn order to recite passages from it, were astonished to find hundreds of 

 bats tumbling down dead from the roof. Their spiritual essences (for 

 bats may contain migrating souls), thus purified by the holy word, 

 soared to the heaven called Hemanarate, where they became Devattas. 

 Those who wish to listen to Bali discourses must perform ablutions, and 

 dress in white garments. Then taking incense and sweet-scented woods 

 (burning them) and having covered them with a cloth, they will perform 

 the usual puja. After having heard the Pali they should take a vessel 

 of water and pour out a libation upon the ground to Thorani, the god- 

 dess of earth." 



I described on a former occasion the places visited by Buddha,* and 

 the publication of the Mahawansa since that time, has elucided the 

 subject more clearly. 



" Buddha, after arriving at the country Phaya Sali Sawat, the king 

 of which entertained him munificently, entered a Buddhist monastery. 

 Here he informed his brother-in-law Ananda that his hour was at hand, 

 inculcating on him that he should not quit the world at the same time, 

 but continue to establish the faith." 



* T. R. A. S. 



L 



