10 PROF. SATIS CHANDRA VIDYABHUSA^A 



II. 



A Scroll illustrating the Life and Miracles of Buddha. 

 [Read July 5th, 1905.] 



This is a Tibetan scroll which was brought from a monastery near Gyantse during 

 the late Tibet expedition. It was kindly forwarded by the Hon. Sir A. T. Arundel, Home 

 Member, Government of India, to our esteemed Philological Secretary, Dr. E. D, Ross, 

 who exhibited it in the meeting of the Asiatic Society held in July, 1905. 



It contains representations of some of the principal scenes from the life of Buddha. 

 There must have been three other scrolls to depict other scenes. On the back is written 

 cnusj^ " gyas " which shows that this scroll was used to be attached to the wall on the 



o 



right-hand side. The mystic formula ^* l?T % " om-a-hum," which possesses the 





power of transforming the ten impurities into nectar, is also thrice repeated to secure 

 spiritual gifts for the votary. 



On the front side, at the top, is Amitabha the Buddha of Infinite Light. He resides 

 in the abode of bliss called the Sukhavati heaven, in the western part of the firmament 

 where the sun daily rises and disappears in all his glory. 1 In the centre on the front side 

 is Buddha S'akyasimha in meditation. Round him there are depicted various scenes 

 from his life, with an inscription under almost every scene. There are no fewer than 41 

 inscriptions, which are noticed below : — 



I. 



1. Original— qeS" W" GWT W ^' *F qS ^' t *^ 3' §¥\ ¥*" 

 Transcription — Bcom-ldan-hdas nan thos dan-bcas te-mdun-gyi srid-du nam- 



sjpq; or CflSjspr «I| 



mkhah-la bshugs-pa. 



Translation — The Blessed One (i.e., Buddha) with his devotees staying yonder in 

 the sky arrayed in lines.' 



II. 



2. Original.— &? qo^' Sr ^' T *rf$PX R\ 



Transcription. — Tshan-pahi chos-skor-wa g;sol-wa. 



Translation. — Brahma's request (to Buddha) to preach religion. 



Explanation. — In the fifth week after the attainment of Buddhaship, the Blessed 

 One stayed at the foot of the Ajapala banyan tree. He thought : " I have attained the truth 

 which is profound, difficult to perceive and to understand, which brings quietude of heart, 

 which is exalted, which is unattainable by reasoning, abstruse, intelligible only to the 



1 The invention of Amitabha is generally ascribed to the Indo-Scythians, who were sun-worshippers and were very powerful 

 under Kanishka about 33 B.C. 



2 Original .5^ "I^Vi'Sfc ^g'V I ' 



