145 
1892.] L. A. Waddell —Buddhist Pictorial Wheel of Life. 
from his neck. He is accompanied by a black dog, a black bear, and a 
man-monkey ; and birds circle around his bead. Under his direction 
the warrior-gods are burling their weapons across the frontier with 
appaling effect on the army of the Lhamayin. 
4. The misery of the Gods. The misery of the gods is also de¬ 
picted. The god enjoys bliss for almost in- 
Misery of the gods. calculable 
time; but when bis merit is exhausted 
then bis lake of nectar dries up, his wish-granting tree, cow and horse 
die, his splendid dress and ornaments disappear, his garden and flowers 
wither, his body no longer bathed by nectar loses its lustre and his 
person becomes loathsome to his goddess-companions and the other 
gods who shun him, and he dies miserably. If he has led a virtuous 
life during his existence as a god then he may be reborn in heaven other¬ 
wise he goes to a lower region and may even be sent to hell. 
II. The Titans or ‘ Ungodly Spirits’—the LHAMAYIN. These 
are the Asuras of Hindu mythology. Their lead- 
The Asuras. ing trait is pride, and this is the world of re¬ 
birth for those who during their human career pharasaically boast of 
being more religious than their neighbours. The class of Lhamayin were 
originally gods ; but, through their pride, they were like Satan expelled 
from heaven ; hence their name, which means ‘ not a god.’* 
They occupy the region at the base of the Mount fti-rab and are 
therefore intermediate in position between heaven and earth. 
They have a duration of life infinitely greater than the human, 
and they have great luxury and resources for enjoyment; but through, 
their pride they envy the greater bliss of the gods, and die prematurely, 
fighting vainly against the gods for some of the fruits of the heavenly 
wish-granting tree and the nectar. 
Into this world, as into heaven, people are born at once fully grown 
from a lotus flower ; and each immediately on birth receives a beauteous 
wife and a wish-granting tree and cow. The wish-granting tree and cow 
yield respectively whatever food or drink is wished for. But they re¬ 
ceive no horse of fore-knowledge, or lotus-carpets like the gods. 
They have three chiefs, the highest of whom is named sGra-chen-hdsin 
(Skt. Bdhula). The 3rd is ‘ the Commander of the Heroes’ in their 
conflict with the gods under Lhai-wang-po gya jin (Skt. Devendresvara). 
Their region is represented of an almost colourless atmosphere. 
They live in a large fort, the chief building in which is the three-storied 
palace of their king occupying the highest and the Commander-in-chief 
the lowest. The ground, both inside and outside the fort, is carpeted with 
* Analogous to this is the common colloquial term mi-ma-yin or ‘ not a man 
applied to those who lead vicious and dissolute lives. 
