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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. VIII. 



By the greatness of the merit thus acquired — 

 By the wondrous power of such merit — all dangers 



are removed. 

 If any man will purify his thoughts 

 And think on Buddha, the Law, and the Church, 

 In thousands and thousands of years, 

 The lot of sin shall not be his.] 



The priest now rises from his knees, and tastefully 

 arranges his offering of flowers on the altar, saying — 



Vannagandha gunupetam. 



Etam kusuma santatim 



Pujayami munindassa 



Siripadasaroruhe. 



[These fresh flowers, 



Endued with colour and perfume, 



I offer at the lotus feet 



Of the Lord of Sages.] 



One of the villagers now brings him in a bowl a small 

 portion of the morning meal, which he places on the altar. 

 The offering is made in the same way as the evening meal, 

 except that bhojanam is substituted for bhesajjani in the 

 stanza Adhwdsetu, &c. This being concluded, the priest 

 proceeds to the refectory, where he is served with his morn- 

 ing meal. He gives the benediction in Pali and in Sinhalese, 

 as at the evening meal. He takes this meal also in 

 silence, repeating to himself the grace (Pindapatam, &c.) 

 for food. 



After this meal he devotes himself to instruction or study. 

 If he has any pupils he reads with them, or teaches the 

 children of the villagers, or he prepares for preaching 

 bana in the evening. 



Before mid-day he proceeds to the image-house, and 

 there offers a portion of the mid-day meal in the same way 

 as the morning meal was offered, and his meal is then served 

 to him in the refectory in the manner already described. 



After this meal he goes to the image-house to worship, 

 repeating the stanzas " I worship Buddha," &c. [ " Vanddmi 

 Buddkam" &c], but on this occasion he makes no offering 



