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
The brilliant and glorious reign of Narapati-sisoo was soon followed by
a series of misfortunes, which contributed to the weakening of his great
empire, and finally brought on its total overthrow. Pagan was taken by
foreign invaders. In the midst of such calamities three noblemen, named
Radzasingian, Asinkara, and Sihasoo, set themselves up as kings, the
first in Miyntsain, the second in Pekkara, and the third in Pinlay, in
the year 662 = to 1301 A.D. The King of Miyntsain, having treacherously
enticed Kiantza, the king of Pagan, to visit him in his new capital,
detained him under various pretexts, and finally had him murdered.
Thaunit, the son of Kiantza, hearing of his father’s detention, ascended
the throne of Pagan, and reigned twenty-two years. He was succeeded by
his brother Mouhnit, who reigned forty-three years. With him ended the
line of Pagan kings in 730 = to 1369 A.D.
Sihasoo, the King of Pinlay, reigned in that place twelve years, and
in 684 removed the seat of royalty to Panya. In that place there were
successively five kings, whose aggregate number of years on the throne
amounts to fifteen.
One son of Sihasoo, named Athinkara-dzau-goun, established royalty in
Tsitkain in 684 = to 1323 A.D. Under the reign of his son and successor,
named Thirimega, a canine tooth of Gaudama was brought to Tsitkain. The
king had the precious relic placed in a golden casket, and enshrined in a
turret of his palace. He daily worshipped it.
Thirimega having died, his two sons Dzeta and Tissa quarrelled about the
crown. Neither of them ever had the title of king; both of them oppressed
the country during nine years. The son of Dzeta, named Budadasa, became
king, and reigned during twenty-nine years. It was under the reign of
that monarch that five venerable religious, who were well versed in the
science of the Pitagat, translated the whole compilation, which was in
Sanscrit, into the language of Ceylon (Pali).[42]
Tsitkain ceased to be a royal residence in 725 = to 1364 A.D., and in
the following year the city of Ava was founded on the sixth of the
waxing moon of Tabaong, on a Tuesday at noon, under the constellation
Pounna-pha-shou.
On the following year, Mouhnit, king of Pagan, died at the age of
sixty-four, after a reign of forty-three years, with whom ended the
line of the Pagan monarchs. In the great city of Ava religion greatly
flourished, and in 1134 = to 1773 A.D., this book was composed[43] in
the province of Dybayen.
For the purpose of creating and increasing feelings of affection towards
the most excellent Buddha,[44] who is greater than the three rational
beings, towards his glorious perfections, as well as the law and the
assembly, I have, to the best of my abilities, endeavoured to translate
from the Pali into Burmese the sacred book called Malla-linkara-wouttoo,
or history of the most excellent flower.
AN ABSTRACT OF A FEW SMALL DZATS, AND OF TWO PRINCIPAL ONES, CALLED NEMI
AND DZANECKA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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