1848.] A few Gleanings in Buddhism. 599 



The Siamese have, but not contrary, I suppose, to the spirit of Bud- 

 dhism, treated Devadatta (or their Thewathat), the persecutor of 

 Buddha throughout his ten states of existence, with more considera- 

 tion than he would have, under like circumstances, met with from the 

 brahmans. He did indeed sink down through the weight of his mis- 

 deeds into hell, where he is to remain for one half of an infernal day, 

 each of which is equal to five hundred and six years in the heavenly 

 regions — while one day of such a year is equivalent to one thousand 

 earthly years ; but, then again, after having undergone this almost eternal 

 fiery trial, he will return to the earth, become an Arahat, a degree of 

 sanctity to which (only) eight [of Buddha's] disciples attained, and 

 after teaching for seven days will enter Nivana. 



Wilford remarked that the Buddhi Satwa of Siam calls Salivahana by 

 the name of Devetat. 



My observation does not confirm this, although it is not improbable 

 that the brahmans introduced the belief amongst some of the Siamese 

 priesthood. In a drawing which I got long ago from a Siamese Bhiku 

 or Bhikchu or Buddhist Priest, this Devadhatta is represented in the 

 lowest or fifth mansion of hell, undergoing his punishment. Wilford, 

 in the Asiatic Researches, describes this victorious personage under the 

 name of Tacshaca, observing that he was " crucified by order of Buddha, 

 on an instrument resembling the cross, according to the writings of 

 travellers into Siam. By others he was impaled alive upon a double 

 cross and hurled into the infernal regions, and Samana Gautama fore- 

 told that he would be a God in reality." 



Hence too, certain writers, wishing, with a very misplaced and mis- 

 chievous zeal, to have it believed that the Buddhists received their 

 ideas of Devadhatta or Devodassa, from the Christians, although the 

 latter person lived and sinned B. C. 543, at the latest, have adduced 

 this cross as a proof of their position. I subjoin a correct copy of 

 the representation in my drawing as above alluded to. From the marks 

 of blood on the arms and legs it should seem that it is intended to 

 represent him as having been nailed to the four beams, and not impaled. 



" King Aryya is the same with the Pra Aryya-sira of the followers 

 of Gautama in Siam and other countries to the eastward of it. He is 

 the mighty pre-chief of the Arryas or Christians, and with him Buddha 

 waged war, as well as with his disciple Praswana. 



The Aryya Raja is also the same with the Deva Twash'ta or Deva- 



4 K 



