104 



BUDHISM. 



The general name for the demons is Yakshayo, anglicised 

 "Devils." Half the height of Maha Meru, or 42,000 yo- 

 duns above the surface of the sea is situated the heaven 

 of the four guardian Gods(^o^t©55D3d56\ , tro) chatummaha- 

 rajka. In this the sun, the moon and the stars are situated. 

 The sun is represented as having a resplendent circular re- 

 sidence 50 yoduns or 700 miles in circumference, and 

 the moon to have one of 49 yoduns in extent. The eclipses of 

 these bodies are stated to result from the efforts of the Asur 

 Rahu, in the form of a large snake, to swallow them. (21,) We 



(21.) In a Pali work called ssodesoCD Sarasangaha, it is stated 



" What! are the supernatural and mighty sun and moon swallowed 

 by Rahu? Yes, he swallows them. Rami's body in height is 

 4,800 yojanas; the breadth between his shoulders, is 12,000 yoja- 

 nas; his thickness is 600 yojanas; his head 900 yojanas; his fore- 

 head 300 yojanas; the space between the eyebrows is 150 yojanas ; 

 the nose 300 yojanas; his mouth 300 yojanas deep; his palm and 

 his foot in breadth are each 200 yojanas; and the joints of his fin- 

 gers 50 yojanas. When he sees the shining of the sun and moon, 

 through hatred, he descends to the path they travel and remains 

 there with his mouth open; the residence of the sun and moon then 

 falls into it, which is 300 yojanas deep, as if it fell into the hell 

 Awichi. The dewata resident therein at once bawl out, trembling 

 with fear. He sometimes covers them with his hands, sometimes 

 hides them under his jaw, sometimes licks them with his tongue, 

 and sometimes moves them up and down in his mouth, like an 

 animal chewing its cud, but he is not able to prevent their motion". 

 Were he to keep them in his mouth saying 'I will kill these,' they 

 would cleave the crown of his head and fly off." 



Buddha says t9e3^G35:et&25JS)<^9 qps^tooS^ocs^oc^s^^S^f^^ 

 Etadaggan Bhikkawe attebhawinan yadidan Rahu asurindo. "Priests 

 Rahu stands first in bodily size." The comment gives his size as 

 the above. — (Anguttara, 5th Suttan— 4th Nipata.j 



Again Buddha says (^^^^^©q^Ssis^ S&3$*®%i8ao&ioQZ)25$ 

 •gB^Q^eso. Halm bhikkawe asurindo chandima suriyanan upak- 

 kiloso. " Priests ! Asur Rahu desires injury to the sun and moon." 

 (Anguttara — 4th Nipata.) 



