The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume I)Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Religion
The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume I)
Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Buddhism -- Burma; Burma -- Religion; Gautama Buddha
[6] In his Archaeological Survey Report, General Cunningham has
supplied us with an accurate description of the position and
ruins of the celebrated city of Radzagio. His own measurements
of the old ramparts, that are still visible, agree to a
surprising degree with those of the two Chinese pilgrims,
Fa-Hian and Hwen-Tsan, who visited the same spot in the fourth
and sixth century of our era. The city was situated in a valley,
surrounded by five hills, which are named Gigakuta, Isigli,
Wibhara, Wipula, and Pandawa. It was five miles in
circumference. This is meant for the circuit of the inner wall.
The exterior one was nearly nine miles. On the southern face of
the Wibhara mountain is the famous cave at the entrance of which
was held the first Buddhist council, not long after the
cremation of Buddha's remains. There is no doubt that the
heights were, in the palmy days of Buddhism, covered with
Buddhistic monuments. As the place was subsequently occupied by
Brahmins and Mussulmans, the Dzedis and monasteries have been
mercilessly pulled down to furnish materials for musjids, tombs,
and temples. The eminences are now covered with Mussulman tombs,
which occupy the places formerly adorned with pagodas. Springs
of hot water were numerous in the vicinity of the city. The
writer has only met once in Buddhistic compositions an allusion
to that natural phenomenon so beneficial to people living in hot
climates. The modern Rajghir, both by name and situation, brings
to our recollection the celebrated capital of Magatha, so famous
in Buddhistic annals. As the extent of Radzagio has been so
accurately determined by ancient and modern visitors, one can
well afford to laugh at the immensely exaggerated number of
houses that are supposed by certain Burmese writers to have
composed the city.
CHAPTER VIII.
_Thoodaudana, desirous to see his son, sends messengers to him
-- They become converts -- Kaludari, a last messenger, prevails
on Buddha to go to Kapilawot -- His reception -- Conversion of
the king and of Yathaudara -- Nanda and Raoula put on the
religious habit -- Conversion of Ananda and of several of his
relatives -- Temptation of Ananda -- Conversion of Eggidatta --
Story of Tsampooka._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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