128 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIV. 



cotemporaneous with the adoption of Buddhism as her state 

 religion. But there is no reason to suppose that the 

 ceremony was of purely Buddhistic origin. A new religion 

 seldom adopts an entirely fresh ritual.* It rather adapts and 

 assimilates an existing ritual so as to suit the new circum- 

 stances, and in the abhiseka ceremony, one sees but a revised 

 edition of the Vedantic ceremony of the royal inauguration. 



From what can be gathered from the Vedantic literature, 

 the Hindu ceremony of the royal inauguration was but the 

 parent of the Buddhistic ceremony. 



Here is an extract (Aitareya Brahmana, VIII., 6-9) ;— >• 



He (the priest) spreads the tiger skin on the throne in such a 

 manner that the hairs come outside, and that part which covered the 

 neck is turned eastward. For the tiger is the Kahattra (royal power) 



of the beasts in the forests The king, when taking his seat 



on the throne, approaches it from behind, turning his face eastwards, 

 kneels down with crossed legs, so that his right knee touches the 

 earth, and holding the throne with his hands prays over it an 

 appropriate mantra. 



The priest then pours the holy water over the king's head, and 

 repeats the following : — " With these waters, which are happy, which 

 cure everything, increase the /royal power, the immortal Prajapati 

 sprinkled Indra, Soma sprinkled the royal Varuna, and Yama sprinkled 

 Manu, with the same I sprinkle thee. Be the ruler over kings in 

 this world," &c. 



At the conclusion of the ceremony the king partakes of a 

 drink of wine made out of soma juice, which the priest 

 hands to him. 



Buddhism, with its hatred of the slaughter of animals and 

 of the use of wine, has eliminated the tiger skin and the 

 soma juice, while it has retained the pouring of the sacred 

 water. In both instances was the newly inaugurated king 

 exhorted to do his duty by his subjects. " If thou shalt be 

 a ruler, then from this day judge the strong and the weak 

 with equal justice, resolve on doing good incessantly to 

 the public, and protect the country from all calamities." 

 (White, Yajur-veda, X. 27.) 



* One chief feature of Buddhism, as of Hinduism, is its receptivity. 

 (Monier Williams, Buddhism.') 



