1857.] The Remains at Pagdn. 9 



has it, that five Rahandahs, or Saints of an order second only to a 

 Buddha, arrived at Pagan from the Hema-wunda or Himalayan 

 region. They stated that they lived in caves on the Nanda-mula 

 hill (probably the Nunda Devi Peak), and the king requested them 

 to give him a model of their abode, from which he might construct 

 a temple. The Eahandahs did as they were requested, and the temple 

 being built was called Nanda-tsi gun or " Caves of Nanda." (PL I.) 

 The term Ananda, by which the temple is now known, is a corrup- 

 tion, arising from the name of Ananda, the cousin and favourite 

 disciple of Gaudama, being so well known to the people. The 

 representation of a cave is a favourite style of building among the 

 Burmese for depositing images.* This is not wonderful among the 

 votaries of a religion which regards an ascetic life in the wilderness 

 as the highest state for mortals in this world. "f 



Major Phayre mentioned another probable origin of the name of 

 this temple, viz. from the Palee Atlanta " the endless ;" which 

 seems to be supported by the fact that another great temple close 

 at hand is called Thapinyu, "The omniscient." 



To reach the Ananda we passed out through the principal eastern 

 gate of the ancient city. The remains of the defences form a 

 distinct mound and ditch, traceable in their entire circuit, and large 

 masses of the brick work still stand at intervals, but I saw none in 

 which any feature of the architecture, or portion of the battlements, 

 was distinguishable. The gate has some remains of architectural 

 design, and ornament of a rich character in plaster, with foliated 

 pilaster capitals and festoons ; but these remnants have been 

 disfigured and obscured by the erection of two coarse modern 

 niches with figures of Warders. A few yards beyond the gate are 

 the square sandstone inscribed pillars mentioned by Mr. Crawfurd. 

 Their appearance is suggestive of great antiquity and interest. 

 But the expectation of the latter would probably be disappointed 

 by an interpretation. The character appeared to be square^ Bur- 



* Several of the temples at Pagan are named in this way ; e. g. Shwe-ku, 

 " The golden cave ;" Sembyo-M t " The white elephant cave," &c. — H. Y. 



t Note by Major Phayre. 



X I do not know whether it has been noticed that the circular form of the 

 ordinary Burmese character, as of the Ooria, the Tamul and several other South 



C 



