72 CEYLON BRANCH— ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



decide which is right, and which is wrong, there will be no 

 wrangling." 



Saying, "we shall arrange thus lest the world say that 

 the men of Puliyoor not knowing how to answer the Budd- 

 hist reviled and beat him," they wrote and sent a letter to 

 the Chola-king, 



They likewise sent letters to the great sages, eminent 

 devotees, and men skilled in difficult sciences, inviting 

 them all to attend the sanctuary, on the morrow. 



The sun now withdrew himself, and the moon sprang up 

 like a circlet of sandel on the resplendant forehead of the 

 goddess of space, like a splendid mirror for the goddess of 

 the night to look into, and like the white-pearl-umbrella 

 held over the God, who bears the earrings of Chank (a ) } 

 and the whole earth was thereby adorned with lustre. 



They (the Brahmans) telling the Buddhist, " Stay here 

 to night, and to-morrow we shall expose thy weakness to 

 the world," returned to their goodly mansions, and after 

 partaking of delicious viands, retired to sleep. 



Before sun-rise, the God, who danced in the sanctuary, 

 bearing a staff, and wearing the tiara of luxuriant tresses, 

 and having his body besmeared with ashes, and exhibiting 

 that holy form which all desire to see, revealed himself to 

 them in a dream, and thus addressed them : 



24. Sand'hanasarvotma . . . . ^isptum&Q^OsjiT^pL^La 

 25- Parameswara .... .... urrnQuxF&T m 



26. Kirana ........ ...... &n<mu> 



27. Bedha Oup 



28. Vatula mngi&rui 



(«) The Chank is the Voluta gravis, and has been an article of 

 value both in Ceylon and India from the remotest period of an- 

 tiquity. It is not only used instead of the trumpet in the Hin- 

 du temples, but also manufactured into beads, arm rings and rings, 

 which are worn by Hindu females. A considerable fishery of 

 chanks was formerly carried on along the north west coast of 

 Ceylon, and the two Mohammedan travellers, who visited the 

 Island in the ninth century, make mention of it (Harris's Col- 

 lection of Voyages and Travels, vol. 1. p. 521.). In the Maha- 

 wanso, Chap. VII. it is stated, that Wijaya, who founded the 

 Singhalese dynasty b. c. 541, bestowed annually on his father 

 in law (tlie king of Pandi ) Chanks and pearls, in value two 

 Lacks. 



