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JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



over the four great quarters of the earth, together with 

 their 2000 isles : Blessed, wait." The great mortal asked 

 'Who art thou?' 4 1 am Vasavatto. 3 "I am aware that both 

 empire and universal dominion are proffered to me : I am 

 however not destined for royalty : depart Mara ; approach 

 not thus. ,# When Gautama became Buddha, Mara brought 

 an army equipped with swords, axes, javelins, bows, arrows, 

 spikes, clubs, &c, to wage war against the great sage, j 

 The army is described to have been so great in number, 

 that it well nigh overpoised the earth. The soldiers assumed 

 many terrific forms Of wild animals, demons and spirits ; 

 and continued rushing towards the spot where Buddha sat j 

 under the Bo tree. Apparitions of ill omen descended in 

 various forms, proclaimed the advent of Mara. Thousands 

 of appalling meteors descended from heaven. The earth | 

 quaked ; and there was darkness throughout the world, j 

 Indra, Brahma, and a host of other celestials who were 

 in attendance upon Buddha fled at the appearance of 

 Mara, who came mounted upon his charger, the Elephant 

 called Girimekhala. The great sage was thus left alone ; 

 and the assault commenced. Crashing storms of fire, brim- I 

 stone, and weapons came down ; but they hurt not one hair ! 

 of Gautama. A hundred thousand volcanos were hurled at I 

 him ; but they assumed the form of garlands on their i 

 approach to Buddha. Every other imaginable devise was I 

 likewise ineffectual ; and Mara fled with shame. His enmity I 

 did not cease here. When Buddha announced his approach- j 

 ing dissolution, Mara imperceptibly exerted his influence j 

 over the mind of Ananda, and prevented him from com- 

 prehending this exposition, though repeated twice. | 



showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. 

 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee &c." Matt. iv. 8, 9. 



* Tumour's version of the " Buddhavansa" (Bengal Asiatic Society's 

 Journal vii p. 30,.) 



f This interference prevented Ananda from entreating the sage to 

 prolong his existence which he had the power of doing even for a 

 whole kedpa if he was duly requested thereto.— Turnour, loc. ext. p. 1001* 



