1882.] Sarat Chandra Das —Contributions on Tibet. 71 
and dialectics. He erected many monasteries and filled them with images, 
sacred volumes, and chaityas by which he filled the Chungar country. 
By conferring distinctions and endowments on the scholars of philosophy, 
he greatly diffused Buddhism. 
Afterwards when the kingdom was overthrown by internecine wars, 
all the religious edifices were demolished, the effect of which even now survives 
in the desolate aspect of the country like the fields of autumn (after harvest). 
From one of the four famous tribes of Orod, the celebrated king, the up¬ 
holder of religions, called Gusri Khan, son of the Khan of the Hoshad, 
was born in the year water-horse. His name was Thorol-ba-dur. According 
to the prophecy of Ti-me Lhun-dub the obtainer of sacred treasure , he is said 
to have been the miraculous emanation of Chhyagna Dorje (Vajrapani), 
and according to the revelation of the Kahgyur, he was a religious king who 
obtained one of the Bodhisattva perfections. At the age of thirteen he 
assumed the command of the army of the Gokar (white heads), numbering 
10,000, and went on an expedition against Hoi-Hoi (Tangyut). He 
gained a complete victory in the fight, for which he became eminently 
famous. During this time Buddhism was not spread in the Oelotli 
country. In other Mongolian countries the Gyal-van (Dalai-Lama) 
Sonam-gya-tsho, at the invitation of Althan Khan, had visited Khalkha. 
By reason of their spiritual relation Buddhism flourished there. Gusri- 
khan, on only hearing its name, imbibed faith and veneration for Buddha. 
Fie made many salutations by repeated prostrations towards that sacred 
country (Tibet), thereby hurting his forehead. When he was twenty-five 
years old, his mother died. In order to celebrate her funeral and for her 
salvation, he distributed a large quantity of gold and silver as alms 
to the poor. On a certain occasion there arose a dispute between the Orod 
and Khalkha. Being overpowered by compassion, he came before the 
Khalkha assembly to plead for the amicable settlement of the matter, 
removed their differences and, having brought the contending nations 
to terms, returned to his own country. At this Ton-khor Chho-je and 
the princes and ministers of Khalkha became greatly delighted. They 
gave him the title of “ Tai-kausri.” During the Dalai Lama Sonam 
Gya-tsho’s visit to Mongolia, an Orod came to reverence him. He saluted 
and presented him a book called Serhod Tampa. On being asked the 
name of the book, the Orod replied, “Lord! this is called Althan-kerel.” # 
The Gyalvan (Dalai), then accepted the man’s alms and predicted that in the 
land of Orod after twenty years Buddhism should be introduced. Accord¬ 
ing to this prediction, Gusri-khan introduced Buddhism by translating 
Serhod-Tampa and many other volumes after a lapse of twenty years. 
* From althan, gold, and keral (Sanskrit Icirari), ray of light, golden light. 
