Indian Antiquary Vol 11

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 36

22
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1882
Bauddha Chaitya. The commentators are not collecting the bones, & portion of the ashes is consistent in saying that chaitya means a Brâh grouped into a human form, and basáli or food maņical building when it is mentioned in offered to it. I take the émasána-chaitya, connection with Råma and his country, and a alluded to in 9. to be a monumental building Buddhist building when mentioned in connec- erected on such spot in memory of departed tion with the enemy's country, forgetting that kings and other great personages. Valmiki has peopled Lanka with vedic stu- | It may therefore be presumed that in accorddents and sacrificers, without ever mentioning ance with custom a chaitya was built in the Buddhists.
memory of Buddha, and that his disciples began No. 7 mentions chaitya trees, so called pro- to worship and multiply it by taking his funeral bably because instead of constructing a build- relics to different parts of the country, while ing it was also the custom to plant trees with the sacrificial chaityas of the Brahmaņs became revetment round their stems, where the chayana scarce owing to the opposition made by the ceremony was performed. In course of time, Bauddhas to animal sacrifices, and the Brâhmans however, all revetted trees began to be called themselves having prohibited the asvamedha chaitya trees; and to such trees, which are for the Kaliyuga. generally found in all villages, Kálid Åsa evi- It will be seen that the Ramayana mentions dently alludes when describing the Dabârņa temples and idolatry; but these seem to be of country in his Meghadúta. Mallinâtha quotes old date in India, though not so very prevalent Visva : chaityam dyatane Buddhavandye chod- as at present. Stenzler's Gautama Sutra 9, desapádape.
66, prescribes the going round of Devayatana. The ceremony performed after the burning Griha-dévatás or household gods are mentioned of dead bodies is saii-chayana, in which, after in 5, 13.
BOMBAY BEGGARS AND CRIERS.
BY K. RAGHUNATHJI.
(Continued from p. 287, vol. X.) MANBHAVAS.
of Krishna's re-appearance having spread far The founder of this Manbhâ va sect was and wide, brought many & woman to KrishKrishņa mbhat Joshi, a worshipper of nambhat's arms, and he enjoyed them to the Vetal. Vetâl pleased with his devotion asked full extent of his depraved heart. When Krishnambhat what was his desire and it should his fame was at its highest pitch, it reached be satisfied. Krishnambhat said that as his name the ears of Hemådpant, minister to the rajâ of was Krishņa, he would like to be transformed Dåvagiri, who tried to ascertain the cause of into the god of that name in outward appearance. Krishna's re-appearance. He propitiated his Vetâl was sorry at the request, but since he tutelary god Gaņeśa, who revealed to him the had promised he could not refuse, and there- secret. Hemådpant, vexed at Krishnambhat's fore presented him with a crown, adding that wicked conduct, sent a confidential person, when he put it on, he would look like the god charged to spare no pains to induce Krishņam. Krishņa. Vetál however advised him not to bhat to accompany him to Paithan. The clerk make a bad use of the gift, and to wear it thus sent pretended to be a great believer in only on proper occasions and for charitable Krishnambhat, prostrated himself before him, purposes, and that any bad use made of it and prayed that he would be graciously pleased would ruin him and send him to perdition. to accompany him to his village, as the men Having got the crown, he made over charge and women were anxious to worship him of his office and vatan to his relatives, and and to place themselves at his service, that the taking advantage of the gift, went on from women had given up tasting food until they house to house visiting and enticing away mar- saw his handsome and comely appearance. ried women and grown-up girls. The fame Flattered by the speech of the clerk, he accom
"A large portion of this account is translated from Mackintosh's Blackclothed Mendicant Devotees, Madras the Prakrit Dictionary of Modern Bharatkhand: Poona, Jour. of Scien, and Lit.,for 1836. 1881, and here and there extracts are made from