Indian Antiquary Vol 16

SR No.: 032508
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 408
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

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94
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARC#, 1887.
driven a white horse richly caparisoned, within the air on a cross. The sons of Chinghiz its colt. The tent and its contents were then Khân, however, refused to offer such an indigburied in a hole and the ground straight- nity to the body of their father, and, therefore, ened again. The Mongols believe, says to avoid such an exposure, the Manicheans our author, that they enjoy themselves after formed the mausoleum of loadstone as above death ; and-hence they give their emperors described. The sons of Chinghiz Khân and a tent to lodge in, meats to eat, milk to the Noyans were much pleased at the ingenuity drink, money to spend, a horse to ride and a of the undertaking, it being such as was never mare to breed young ones. After the death of before attempted."0. the emperor no one mentions his name before With these notices of the obsequies of his family, for fear of troubling his repose. Chinghiz Khan we may compare the Sagas
A more fantastic story is told in the Shajrat- preserved in the Kalmuk chronicles, the Altan ul-Atrak as to the burial of Chinghiz Khân Topchi and the Chronicle of Ssanang Setmen, than any of the above. "On the arrival evidently composed after the Mongols had of Chinghiz Khan's family in Mughalis- been converted to Lamaism. I will extract tan they buried his body at the foot of the former version as being the older one. & favourite tree, under the shade of which we there read that when near his death he he was accustomed to sit when out hunting, said to those about him : "You my four broand which he had directed should be his thers are like musk deer, and you my four place of burial. He also directed that a man- sons are like kuluks." You the five banners soleum of magnet or loadstone should be made, and four foreign peoples, listen. I never once and that his body should be placed in & experienced such agonies, even when I was coffin of steel. It is related, that when assembling my great people. I made myself his children had constructed the mausoleum uneasy and fretted even when my leathern and placed the coffin therein, as he directed, stirrups stretched and the little ears were torn the latter became suddenly attracted on all out of my iron stirrups. I felt not such suffersides and remained suspended in the air. ings when mounting my sterile white mare, His family then caused the vicinity to be and fastening behind me the skin (?) of a young forbidden" or laid waste, and now the mau- goat, I assembled my great people. Is not this a soleum is in the midst of a thick forest reward for the works I did in former lives "36 through which there is only one narrow path. Thereupon Kiluken Baghatur of the Sunid tribe It is said that some Kafirs" have taken broke out and said: “Thy will, strong as up their abode in this place, and that a deviljade, will weaken. Thy beloved Burtehjujin" at times enters the coffin, and gives responses Setzen will die, Khayar and Belgutei two of to such questions as are proposed to him. These thy brothers will struggle for the throne, the nuthe hearers look upon as oracles, and the merous people thou hast brought together with Kafirs who are the attendants or priests there, so much pain will disperse, thy lofty government and who worship this coffin, conform to these will be a based, thy wife Burtehjujin, united by pretended oracles, and increase infidelity by strong ties to thee in thy youth, will die, thy two their promulgation. The infidels consider this sons Ogotai and Tului will become orphans; the tomb as the house of God. There is no other numerous peoples thou hast collected will be road than that described to this mausoleum, separated and ruled by others, thy governfrom the thickness of the forest surrounding ment, exalted like a mountain, will subside, it. Some modern historians say that Chinghiz Burtehjujin the wife whom thon didst find, Khân was born when the sun was in the sign with whom thou wast united will die ; two Libra, and as that sign is esteemed influential of thy brothers, Khatsugu and Utsnagu, will on the atmosphere, for that reason the learned become rivals. The numerous peoples thou in the religion of Mani" directed that the hast collected will disperse over mountains body of Chinghiz Khân should be suspended and forests and will migrate in the direction • D'Obsson, Vol. I. pp. 384-5, note.
* .e. choice chargers. 10 "tabooed."
Infidels.
15 1.. referring to the doctrine of metem psychoris. 19 The Manichoans.
5 op. cit. pp. 199-200. 10 1.e. his favourite wife Burteh.