Indian Antiquary Vol 22

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 8

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1899.
The ruler of Avd was assisted in his government by wise ministers, and was happy in the possession of trastworthy friends. He was the possessor of military weapons, soldiers, horses, elephants, and fortified towns, and received tribute from sixteen states, such as Sundparanta, Tampadipa, and Kampoja. His capital, Batangpurs, was the storehouse of all kinds of precious minerals and the repository of all wealth. He was wise, mighty, and powerful, and had reduced to subjection all the other ralers of the world..... He was of opinion that, although he might exert himself in various ways to ensure the continuance of the excellent religion promulgated by the Greatest of Conquerors, ...........
Reverse Face. His glorious Majesty King Sʻinbyuyin, the possessor of the han s'inbyd and many other white elepliants, and of gold, silver, and ruby mines, the suzerain of all the other ralers, and the overlord of the sixteen states, namely,
Sunaparanta, with its districts Kale, Tennyin, Yd, Tilin, Salin, and Saga; Sirikhêttarame, with its districts Udêtarits and Pandaung; Ramanna, with its districts Kubôn, Yaungmyà, Muttamà, and Pagð (Pego); Ayuttays, with its districts Dvârâvati,e Yôdayà, and Kamanpaik; Haripuncha, with its districts Zimme, Labôn, 10 and Anàn ;!1 Lavarattha,1% with its districts Chandapuri, Sanpa påbet, and Mainglon ;13 Khémavara, with its districts Kyaingtôn and Kyaing kaang; Jətinagara, with its districts Kyaingfôn and Maingse; Kampôja, with its districts Mônè, Nyaungy wê, Dibd, and Mômék ; Mahimsaka, with its districts Môgôk and Kyàtpyin ; Son (Chinarattha), with its districts Bamo (Bhamo) and Kaungsin: Aļavi, with its districts Môgaung and Mônhyin ; Manipura, with its districts Kabe and Mwêyin ; Jeyavaddhana, with its districts Jeyavati and Kétumatt;
Tampadipa, with its districts Pagân, Myinzaing, Pinyà, and Ava; resolved to make a resplendent offering to the Pagoda, wherein were enshrined the parıbhöga of three Buddhas, as well as the hairs of Gautama Buddha, given by him on the 49th day of his Buddhahood to the two brothers Taphussa and Bhallika, with a view that these relics should be objects of adoration by all dévas and men. The King was endowed with such might and power, that any desire of his would be consummated by the co-operation of Sakra and the dévas. He was desirous of placing a t'i covered with pure gold on the Sàndòshin Chot1,15 which is 900 bàndaungs16 in perimeter, 225 in diameter, and 183] in height.17
On Sunday, the 8th waxing of the moon of Py86, 1136, Sakkaraj, the King left Avà with the magnificence of 'Sakra, leaving the city of Mahasudassana for the purpose of worshipping at the Chalamani Chêti. He was escorted by 80 battalions of land and naval forces; by 1,600 elephants, headed by the hàn s'inbyû; by 500 ponies from the royal stables, headed by the royal charger, Nàtbayinbyàn, which was four taungs, two maiks, and four letbits high; by
: (Hore is a title for Ava or Avå. Mindồn named Mandalay, Ratanapuņņa; see post, page 28.-ED.] 8 Shwedaung in the Prome district.
• Padaung in the same district. 6 Bassein.
• Now called Myaungmya in the Bassein district. 1 Martaban.
* Bangkok, • Ayudhia.
16 Labong. 11 Annam.
19 Lsos. 13 Now called Mainglôngyi.
16 Kiang Hung. 15 The Shwe Dagon Pagoda at Rangoon.
16 A bandaung is equivalent to 191 inches, 11 The British Burma Gazetteer, II., 631, gives the measurementa as 1855 ft. perimeter, and 321 ft. plus 26 ft. for tl, total 347 ft. height. This text gives the measurements ss 1434 ft. 51 inch. perimeter: 355 ft. 37 incl diameter; 291 ft. 114 inch height. There is no reconciling possible of these measurements. The base of the pagoda is in fact octagonal and not circular.-ED.