Chapter I: Front Matter

TRÜBNER’S ORIENTAL SERIES.

THE LIFE OR LEGEND
OF
GAUDAMA
_THE BUDDHA OF THE BURMESE_.

With Annotations.

THE WAYS TO NEIBBAN, AND NOTICE ON THE
PHONGYIES OR BURMESE MONKS.

BY THE
RIGHT REVEREND P. BIGANDET,
BISHOP OF RAMATHA,
VICAR APOSTOLIC OF AVA AND PEGU.

_IN TWO VOLUMES._
VOL. II.

Fourth Edition.

LONDON:
KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & CO. LTD.
BROADWAY HOUSE, CARTER LANE, E.C.
1912.

_The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved._

Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh

CONTENTS.

LEGEND OR LIFE OF THE BURMESE BUDDHA, CALLED GAUDAMA.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

Buddha, being seventy-nine years old, delivers instructions
to the Rahans—Preachings in the village of Patalie—Miraculous
crossing of the Ganges—Conversion of a courtesan—Sickness of
Buddha—His instructions to Ananda—Last moments and death of
Thariputra—His eulogium by Buddha—Death of Maukalan—Reflections
of Buddha on that event 1

CHAPTER II.

Voyage to Wethalie—Last temptation of Manh—Causes of
earthquake—New instructions to the Rahans—Last meal of
Buddha—His painful distemper—His conversation with one
of the Malla Princes—Sign foreshowing Buddha’s coming
death—Arrival in the Kootheinaron forest—Buddha lays himself
on his couch—Wonders attending that event—Instructions to
Ananda—Eulogium of Ananda by Buddha—Conversion of Thoubat—Last
words of Buddha to the Rahans—His death 28

CHAPTER III.

Stanzas uttered after Buddha’s death—Ananda informs the Malla
Princes of Buddha’s demise—Preparations for the funeral—Arrival
of Kathaba at the spot where the body was exposed to public
veneration—He worships the body—Wonder on that occasion—The
burning of the corpse—Partition of the relics made by a Pounha
called Dauna—Extraordinary honours paid to the relics by King
Adzatathat—Death of that king and of Kathaba 75

CHAPTER IV.

After Buddha’s death, zeal of Kathaba in upholding genuine
doctrines—He selects five hundred elders to become members of
a council or assembly—Radzagio is fixed upon for the holding
of the council—He repairs thither with a portion of the
appointed members—Behaviour of the amiable Ananda previous to
his departure for Radzagio—King Adzatathat supports Kathaba
in his views—The hall for holding the council is prepared by
his orders—Ananda is qualified in a miraculous manner for
sitting as a member of the council—Holding of the council
under the presidency of Kathaba—Establishment of the Religious
era—Destruction of Wethalie by Adzatathat—The successors of
that Prince—In the days of King Kalathoka a second council is
held at Pataliputra under the presidency of Ratha—Causes that
provoked the holding of a second assembly 101