INSCRIPTION FROM BUDDHA GAYA. 



173 



to a custom that still prevails at Ava, was hanging within the palace, emitted a sound 

 of itself without being struck. This phsenomenoii was considered as prognosticating 

 the infant's future power and glory, and hence he was called Tsee shoo, the 

 first word being the name of this kind of drum, and the last an imitation of the sound heard 

 on the occasion. In process of time Tsee-SHOO was changed into Tsee-thoo. Aloung 

 is a name of far more importance. It means the rudiments of a Boodh, or an Embryo 

 Boodh, and is applied to a being who is hereafter to become a Boodh. Gaudama was 

 so called during millions of years and during his 550 different states of existence, whilst 

 he was completing the measure of good works, which was to perfect him into a Boodh, 

 agreeably to a prophetical annunciation that he had received from the Boodh Dipen- 

 gara('). This title was given to Aloung-tsee-thoo in the same manner as it was 

 afterwards given to Aloung-phra (Alompra), by his subjects of their own accord, 

 as a mark of their profound veneration and respect, believing, as they did, that these kings 

 were not common mortals, but beings destined in some future state of existence to become 

 Boodhs. The genealogy of Aloung-phra, after he had become king, was very care- 

 fully traced up to this Aloung-tsee-thoo, and through him to Abhiraj A, the first 

 king of Tagoung. The Burmese history relates the fact of this king of Pagan, Aloung- 

 tsee-thoo, having sent an army to invade Arracan, and place on the throne of thatking- 

 dom, a prince named Let-ya-nan, regarding whom mention will be made in a succeeding 

 note. 



8. — Theeri Dhamma Pada Raja Goona (--) is supposed to have been a priest 

 who died in Arracan on his route to Gaya. His disciple, Maha Kattaba, (-^) in conse- 

 quence of his youth and subordinate rank, is supposed to have been afraid of proceeding 

 on the mission by himself. A priest probably residing in Arracan offered to accompany 

 him, and a reference must have been made to the king at Pagan, when, it is imagined. 



(') DiPENGARA predicted, that after four Thenkhye and 100,000 worlds, Gaudama would be per- 

 fected into a Boodh. A Tlienkhye is a numeral, consisting of an unit with 140 cyphers ! Dipengara 

 was the fourth and Gaudama the twentieth of the Boodhs, who have last appeared in this world 

 according to the Burmese. The sculptures and paintings seen in Burmese temples and monasteries 

 of a man lying prostrate at the feet of another, who is addressing him, are intended to represent Gau- 

 dama as the hermit Thoomeda (2*) receiving the prophetical annunciation from Dipengara. 



(^^) Sri Dhctrma pada raja Guna. (^^) Mahv, Kasyapa. {^'^) Sumita, 



V 



