74 Gleanings in Buddhism. [July, 



" When it became known that the divine Buddha was about to leave 

 the world, the four elements forsook their tasks, the heavens and the 

 earth shook, and Meru, that king of mountains, bent like a sapling 

 before the wind, as if giddy with apprehension, while the rivers rushed 

 along with unwonted force. Buddha at length went into the house of a 

 goldsmith, who directed a feast to be prepared for him." It appears 

 that " this divine person while in some previous condition of existence had 

 slain a Rakhasha named Mara, but in self defence. This wretch Mara 

 having entered the assembly, changed his body into a poison and insinu- 

 ated himself into a joint of pork which had been set before Buddha 

 The latter was aware of the trick, but as he courted his fate, he partook 

 of the meat and soon after expired." 



Were it not that the Buddhists themselves do not countenance the 

 supposition, we might be induced to conclude that Buddha had been 

 poisoned by his enemies, the heretics. 



" Thus Buddha entered Nivan, — the earth groaned from its inmost 

 caverns, the holy Ganges wept with her waters, — the plains became 

 parched with grief, the forests shed their leaves, and all nature felt the 

 shock. This ever memorable event occurred in the kingdom of Samoula 

 Raja (Samala?) 



" Then came Indra, and the Devattas down to the spot. The Rishii 

 also assembled along with the Naga and Nagi. Garuda was also there. 



" The body of Buddha was now got ready for the funeral pyre. Ample 

 rolls of white cloth, with sweet-scented woods were prepared and a 

 Maratapa (q. a type of the sthupas ?) or pyramidal bier, was constructed 

 to hold the body. 



" W T hen fire was applied to the pile it would not burn — not even when 

 held by Princes and Chiefs. A shower of the montha flowers fell from 

 heaven. In the meantime Phra Katsop, (Kassapa, a favourite 

 disciple of Buddha, who subsequently, as it is supposed, conveyed his 

 doctrines to China,) arrived at the pile, when fire instantaneously burst 

 forth from the body of Buddha, and consumed it with exception of the 

 bones. A heavy rain then fell, and washed away the ashes from the bones. 

 Samoula Raja placed the relics in a golden vase, and deposited them 

 in a Chaitya (a pyramidal temple) . 



Soon after these events king Ajatasatru (Ajatasattu) of Rachakhru 

 (Rajagriha in Behar, he is said in the A. R. to be brother of 



