The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume II)Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Religion
The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume II)
Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Buddhism -- Burma; Burma -- Religion; Gautama Buddha
[54] In glancing over the latter part of Buddha’s life, the reader has
seen that the less important points of discipline have been the subject
of much discussion in the early days of Buddhism. Among those points of
dispute and contention were the last five articles above enumerated. The
second council was assembled for the purpose of settling warm disputes
which distracted the Buddhist Thanga, or Assembly, and caused great
disturbances. The venerable Rasa, who lived in Wethalie, a city situated
on the Gunduck, north of Hajipoor, undertook a long journey, as far as
Kosambi, for the express purpose of warning the religious of that country
against the dangerous innovations which were introduced by a considerable
body of Rahans belonging to the eastern districts of Wethalie.
The journey was certainly a long one in a western direction. The ruins of
the famous city of Kosambi have been discovered at a place called Kosam,
thirty miles above Allahabad, on the Jumna. They are most extensive, and
at once indicate the importance that place must have had in the days of
its prosperity. A broken pillar, the polished shaft of which must have
measured 34 feet, is covered with inscriptions; it is one of the most
important Buddhist relics. It is probably one of those pillars erected by
Athoka in every part of his extensive dominions. It bears no inscription
more ancient than the second and third century of the Christian era. A
similar one was erected at Prayag, an ancient city mentioned by Hwen
Thsang as being situated at the confluence of the Ganges and the Jumna,
and finally destroyed by the gradual encroachments of the rivers. The
place remained abandoned until the days of the Emperor Akhbar, who built
a fort called Illahabas. The new city received the name of Allahabad from
the Emperor Shah Jehan. The famous pillar called the Allahabad Pillar
bears three inscriptions. The first is that of Asoka, 240 years B.C.,
recording his edicts for the propagation of Buddhism; the second is that
of Samudra Gupta, in the second century of our era, commemorative of
his extensive dominions; the third is that of Jehangir, mentioning his
accession to the throne. The last re-setting up of this famous pillar
took place in 1838.
[55] Among southern Buddhists, preference is given to the yellow colour
for the monk’s habit. The juice extracted from the Jack-tree wood, by the
process of boiling, supplies the necessary ingredient for dyeing.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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