I. On certain Tibetan Scrolls and linages lately brotight from Gyantse. 



By Satis Chandra Vidyabhusana, M.A., M.R.A.S., Professor of Sanskrit and 



Pali, Presidency College, Calcutta. 



Contents. 



I. — Images of the Sixteen Sthaviras. 

 II. — A scroll illustrating the life and miracles of Buddha. 

 III. — -A chart containing the charm of Vajrabhairava. - 



I. Images of the Sixteen Sthaviras. 

 [Read Feb. ist, 1905.] 



These images, which have been carved out of pieces of red sandalwood, are not 

 like the ones which are available in the markets of Darjeeling or Katamundu, or even in 

 those of Lhasa. They are not images of Buddha, nor those of Chinese Hosliangs which 

 are carved out of soap-stone by Chinamen and sold as curiosities ; but they are unique 

 examples obtained from a monastery near Gyantse during the late Tibet expedition. 

 Image No. 5 was kindly lent to me by Mr. Buck of the Home Department (India), 

 while images Nos. 15, 10, 3 and 9 were borrowed from Colonel Beynon, Assistant 

 Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief. All these images are specimens of 

 Chinese sculpture. 



The images themselves are not more than two hundred years old, but they must 

 have been copied from very old originals. All of them are of the same size, being 4^ 

 inches in length and nearly 3 inches in breadth. They are representations of five of 

 the sixteen famous Buddhist saints who are called in Tibetan " Gnas-brtan," in Pali 

 " Thera," and in Sanskrit " Sthavira," and who put on the tri-clvara (three monkish robes) 

 and sit on Vajrasana or immoveable and imperishable diamond seats. Beneath the feet 

 of the images there are inscriptions in Tibetan in letters of gold containing the names 

 of the Sthaviras and formulae of salutation. The five inscriptions with their romanized 

 transcriptions and English translations are given below : — 



No. 5. 



HPhags-pa gnas-brtan-chen-po rdo-rje-mo-yi-bu-la na-mo. 

 " Salutation to the noble great saint Vajrayani-putra." 



No. 15. 



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HPhags-pa gnas-brtan-chen-po sped-byed-la na-mo. 

 " Salutation to the noble great saint Gopaka." 



l6-T0-Op. 



