1904.] 
P. Doyal —An ancient Cave. 
31 
Hwen Thsang says :— 
“ To the east of the place where Gaya Kasyapa sacrificed to fire 
(Gaya), crossing a river, we come to a mountain called Pragbodhi (Po- 
lo-ki-pot) i.e.f “ the mountain leading to (before) perfect intelligence,” as 
Buddha, when about to attain enlightenment, first ascended this moun¬ 
tain. Tathagata, after diligently seeking for six years and not yet ob¬ 
taining supreme wisdom, after this gave up his penance and accepted 
the rice milk (of Sujata). As he went to the north-east, he saw this 
mountain that it was secluded and dark, whereupon he desired to seek 
enlightenment thereon. Ascending the north-east slope and coming to 
the top, the earth shook and the mountain quaked, whilst the mountain 
Deva in terror thus spoke to Bodhisattva : ‘ This mountain is not the 
fortunate spot for attaining supreme wisdom. If here you stop and 
engage in the Samadhi of diamond ( i.e ., Vajra-samadhi) the earth 
will quake and gape, and the mountain be overthrown upon you.’ Then 
Bodhisattva descended, and half-way down the south-west slope he 
halted. There backed by the crag and facing a torrent, is a great stone 
chamber. Here he sat down cross-legged. Again the earth quaked and 
the mountain shook, and a Deva cried out in space: ‘This is not the 
place for a Tathagata to perfect supreme wisdom. From this south¬ 
west 14 or 15 li, not far from the place of penance, there is the Pippala 
(Pi -po-lo) tree, under which is a diamond throne (Vajrasana, an im¬ 
perishable throne, supposed to be the centre of the earth, and the spot 
where all Buddhas arrived at complete wisdom). All the past Buddha® 
seated on this throne have obtained true enlightenment, and so will those 
yet to come. Pray then proceed to that spot (Buddha-Gaya).’ Then 
Buddha departed, the Devas leading the way, and accompanying him 
to the Bodhi tree. When Asoka Baja came into power, he signalised 
each spot up and down this mountain, which Bodhisattva had passed, 
by erecting distinguishing posts and stupas. These, though of differ¬ 
ent sizes, yet are alike in spiritual manifestations. Sometimes flowers 
fall on them from heaven, sometimes a bright light illumines the dark 
valleys. Every year on the day of breaking up the season of Wass 
(Varsa), religious laymen from different countries ascend this moun¬ 
tain for the purpose of making religous offerings to the faithful. They 
stop one night and return. Going south-west about 14 or 15 li one 
comes to the Bodhi tree.” 
General Cunningham in his map of Gaya and Bihar, given in plate 
III, page 3 of Yol. I of his report on the archaeological survey of India 7 
has marked the range of hills about 6 miles south-east of the town of 
Gaya as “ Pragbodhi mountain ” (Po-lo-ki-pot). The statement of 
Hwen Thsang, that the distance between the stone chamber, situated 
