Indian Antiquary Vol 02

SR No.: 032494
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 428
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(APRIL, 1873.
by the Buddhists, and it is a place of great interest, own pockets. This is only one example out of worthy of being maintained as a historical monu- many; and nothing can be more injurioue, ment, being the only rock-temple of any impor- nothing more demoralizing, than for the people to tance in Ceylon, and possessing painted roof 500 frauds of this kind committed by trustees of which is the best example of Buddhist art in the temple property go unpunished. It is not easy island. To this wibårs belong large and valuable | to suggest a remedy for fear of the outcry, "The forests, which should be preserved for supplying Government is supporting Buddhism, &c. &c.".. the necessary timber for the maintenance of the It would be well if this question could be dealt buildings belonging to the wihêra, and also for the with merely as 1 matter of good government, benefit of the wihåra tenants--to whom the wild untrammelled by the odium theologicum. It is honey, jungle ropes, and pasture for cattle, to be simply the question of preserving for the public found in these forests, are of considerable those public lands at present set apart for religious value. The incumbent of the wihara, without purposes, which, unless closely looked after, will regard to the interests of which he was the gradually become lost to the public altogether. In guardian, sold to a low-country carpenter all the the course of the past year there have been two imvaluable timber in one of the large forests and portant judgments delivered by the Supreme Court, omitted to pay the money into the wihara chest. which it may be useful here to notice. The first is Complaint was made to the Commissioners, but known as the Adam's Peak Case. In 1853 the they had no power to act. They however called Crown relinquished the right to appoint to Buddhist the attention of the ecclesiastical authorities to the offices, but the power of removal was retained... matter, and the incumbent has been called upon If these judgments were publicly known and to pay in to the credit of tho wihara upwards of understood, and if the powers which they declare £170, probably less than a third of the amount he to exist were systematically exercised, much has received. It is doubtful whether he will pay might be done to check peculation and embezzleeven this. Certainly he will go unpunished. The ment; but it is doubtful whether any real good can people know that their priest has committed the be effected unless some such supervision is greatest crime a Buddhist can commit, for, in exercised over the temple property here as is their language, "he has robbed Buddha." They found necessary in the case of Friendly Societies know also that he has committed a great offence in England. There can be no security against against our laws, having appropriated to himself fraud until the temple lands are placed in charge the property of which he was the trustee. The of a Government officer, at any rate to the extent Buddhist authorities will not seek to remove him, of no lease or agreement being valid unless it be because they cannot act without the aid of our entered in his office, and until all trustees of temCourts. The tenants will not act, because they are plo property are required to send in annually, to afraid to take steps against a man of influence a Government officer, accounts showing the with money at command. Others will not act, revenues, whether in kind or in money, and details because the expenses would come out of their of the expenditure.f
ARCHÆOLOGY OF MAISUR.
From the Report of the Administration of Mysore for 1871-72. The Province abounds with inscriptions onscriptions, of which the Begůru stone, in the stone or copper, recording royal benefactions and
Government Museum at Bengalur, may serve as other public gifts; the historical data derivable a specimen. In others of Jain origin, as in the from which are perhaps the most authentic extant, rock inscriptions of Śrâvana Belagola, they are while at the same time they throw much light | more like the Lât and old Pali forms. Towards on the earlier forms of the language, and furnish the cast the Grantha character, with some admixother collateral information of considerable in ture, is frequently met with, as in the Kolar terest. But in the case of inscriptions of prior Amma temple. date to the year 1000 of the era of Salivahana, A number of these basanas have been deor 800 years ago, a difficulty presents itself in the ciphered and translated from photographs. A strange and obsolete characters of the writing. catalogue is further being prepared of all inscripThese are found in many cases to resemble the tions to be found in the country, with the view of letters of the Western Cave and old Gujarat in selecting for translation such as appear to be of • See Ind. Antiq., vol. I. p. 189 ffg.
+ From the Report for 1871.