240 Report of the Archeological Survey. [No. 4, 
306. With respect to the identification of Visakha with the Saketa 
of the Hindus, I rest my proofs chiefly on the following points: Ist, 
that Visékha, the most celebrated of all females in Buddhist history, 
was a resident of Saketa before her marriage with Puruna Varddhana, 
son of Mrigara, the rich merchant of Srdvast ;—and 2nd, that Buddha 
is recorded by Hwen Thsang to have spent 6 years at Visdkha, while 
by the Pali annals of Turnour he is stated to have lived 16 years at 
Sdaketa. 
307. The story of the noble maiden Visikha is related at great 
length in the Ceylonese books. According to Hardy, she erected a 
Purvvdréma at Srdvasti, which is also mentioned by Hwen Thsang. 
Now, there was also a Purvudrdma at Siketa, and it can hardly be 
doubted that this monastery was likewise built by her. She was the 
daughter of Dhananja, a rich merchant, who had emigrated from 
Rajagriha to Sdketa. Now, amongst the oldest inscribed coins 
which have been discovered only at Ajudhya, we find some bearing 
the names of Dhana Deva and Visékha-Datta. I mention this because 
it seems to me to show the probability that the family of Dhananja 
and Visékhé was of great eminence in Saketa or Ayodhya; and I 
infer from the recurrence of their names, as well as from the great 
celebrity of the lady, that the city may possibly have been called 
Visdkhé after her name. 
808. The other proof which I derive from the years of Buddha’s 
residence is direct and convincing. According to the Ceylonese annals, 
Buddha was 35 years of age when he attained Buddhahood; he then 
led a houseless life for 20 years, preaching in various places in Northern 
India, all of which are detailed; and of the remaining 25 years of his 
life he spent 9 in the Jetavana monastery at Sravasti, and 16 in the — 
Pubhérdmo wonastery at Saketapura. Now, in the Burmese annals 
these numbers are given as 19 years and 6 years, and in the last figure 
we have the exact number recorded by Hwen Thsang. Nothing can — 
be more complete than this proof. There were only two places at ~ 
which Buddha resided for any length of time, namely, Srdvasti, at 
which he lived either 9 or 19 years, and Séketa, at which he lived 
either 6 or 16 years; and as according to Hwen Thsang he lived for 6 
years at Visikha, which is described as being at some distance to the 
south of Srivasti, it follows of necessity that Visikha and Saketa were 
one and the same place. 
‘nh 

