SRID-PA-HO-A TIBETO-CHINESE TORTOISE CHART OF DIVINATION. 3 



nine numbers corresponding to the nine spots are arranged in such a way as 

 to give the same total in all directions. Compare — 



4 



9 



2 



3 



5 



7 



8 



i 



6 



Divination. — The favourable and unfavourable consequences of an action are 

 determined by the position of the figures of the Lo-skor, Spar-kha and Sme- 

 \va in relation to the time when the action is performed. The auspicious 

 and inauspicious moments of birth, marriage and death are determined on 

 the same principle. 



Surrounding portion of the Chart. 



Mystic diagram. — On the left of the tortoise (^J'fpj Rus-sbal) there are 



three mystic diagrams, viz. (i) the diagram of the cycle of twelve years 



^'^'^S'^^'TJ'^'Jl, (2) the diagram of eight planets and twenty-eight 



stars ^3^ q'^'JTi'spj'qj ) an d (3) the diagram of the king and minister of the 



Sa-bdag nagas $J '^J^'g: '^'^T^J^T^ 1 On the right there are two diagrams, viz. 

 (1) the diagram of the Sa-bdag nagas presiding over pestilential diseases 

 S'^^'Sf^^l'^T^^'qj and (2) the diagram of Srid-pa-ho for drawing omens 



Ifrsr^yrsi 



Below the tortoise (Rus-sbal ^J'lpJ) are (1) the symbols of eight planets, (2) the 

 charm of eight Spar-kha expounded at Spoh-thah, and (3) the charm of nine Sme-wa 

 expounded also at Spoh-thah. 



The symbols of planets. — The planets (^3^ gzah) are (1) the sun (y'^I ni-ma) 

 symbolised by a round body, (2) the moon (M'Q zla-wa) symbolised by the 

 crescent, (3) Mars (5^*^51^ mig-dmar) symbolised by a red eye, (4) Mer- 

 cury (fj^'^J hlag-pa) symbolised by a hand, (5) Jupiter (*J^"3 phur-bu) 

 symbolised by a thunder bolt, (6) Venus (^£^1 pa- sans) symbolised by a 



garter, (y ) Saturn (§J^] spen-pa) symbolised by a bundle, and Rahu (ff^^ 

 sgra-gcan) symbolised by a dragon's head. 



The charm of Spar-kha— R^ ^%^' ^F ^' ^^ ^'^" ^'^'SJCSI— the charm 

 subduing all diseases, expounded at Spoh-thah, runs as follows :— 



