No. 47.— 1896.] 



RIDI VIHARE. 



121 



Dutugemunu, and marks the site whence the view of silver 



sprung up. In front of this image there is an oblong 



wooden table for offerings. 



Two Chinese lamps, which are suspended from the roof, 



are said to be gifts of a penitent Buddhist after his return 



from penal servitude at Malacca, whither he was transported ! 



And he [Siddhattha] gilded with gold the five large images of Buddha 

 &nd completed the other works that had to be done inside. On the 

 outside wall also he caused to be painted a beautiful row of figures of 

 Devas and Brahmas carrying flowers in their hands, as if they had 

 come to worship. He caused also to be made a large arch, beautiful 

 and pleasant to the sight, and two figures of lions on the two sides 

 of the door, and figures of demons on the spaces between in the walls. 



Nearly all this is in a wonderful state of preservation ; and 

 in addition thereto are at each of the two entrances to the in- 

 ferior of the temple a pair of tusk-holders, one on each side, on 

 which magnificent elephant tusks are fixed on festival days. 



He also had pictures made of the sixteen principal shrines consisting 

 ■of Mahiyangana and the rest, and a likeness of the excellent foot-print 

 [of Buddha] on the Sacca-baddha-pabbata [a mountain in Siam], and 

 many scenes also painted with exquisite art from many Jatakas, 

 showing the ten- fold Parami, the three-fold Cariya, the five great 

 self-denying sacrifices and other virtues (of the Bodhisatta). And in 

 the hall he caused many pictures to be painted : lions, elephants, and 

 swans, in rows ; likewise flowers and creepers also. 



To the right of the MaM-vihare is a small budu-ge, the 

 framework of the door leading into which is of exquisite 

 workmanship, elaborately inlaid with carved ivory, and 

 said to be a present from King Kirti Sri. 



The following description refers to the " Uda-vihare," and 

 applies with equal fidelity to the interior and other build- 

 ings as they exist at the present day, the painting being as 

 fresh as new : — 



Then in the beautiful cave that is on the top of the self-same rock 

 he made a fine, large, and excellent image-house pleasant to the sight, 

 and many works in stone that were wrought to perfection. In it he 

 made a large, beautiful, and life-like sitting image of Buddha, pleasant 

 to behold, and on both sides thereof two fine upright statues. He 

 also caused to be made there the images of Metteyya Bodhisatta and 

 of Uppalavanna and many images of Buddha, and hundreds also of 

 .arhats. Likewise there were figures of the twenty-four Buddhas 



