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JULY, 1908.)
A VISIT TO RAMTEK.
207
A legendary account of him which Mr. S. C. Das, C.I.E, has given at some length from "Tibetan sources in the Bengal Asiatic Society's Journal, Vol. Ll., pp. 115 ff., states that a rich Brahman of Vidarbha, to whom no son had been born for many years, once saw in a vision that if he gave alms to 100 Brâhmaņs he would get a son. He did so sccordingly, and a son was born, but the astrologers predicted that he would not live more than a week. They were, therefore, requested to find some remedy for averting such a calamity, and they said that his life could be prolonged for 7 years only if the parents entertained 100 Bhikshus. This was done, and the child lived on until the fatal seventh year began, when his parents, unwilling to see the painful end, caused him to be removed to a certain solitary place in company with a few retainers. As the boy was passing the last mournful days, one day the Mahâbodhisattva Avalokitesvara K bakarpaņa visited him in diaguise, and advised him to go to the great monastery of Nalondra in Magadha, as the surest means of escaping from the hands of death. He, accordingly, repaired to that famous Vihara and informed the head of the monastery of his impending danger. The latter, thereupon, advised him to enter the holy order of monks. This saved him from the clutches of death and he was ordained a Bhikshu and commenced his studies there. After a few years' service in the monastery, he obtained the subordinate office of steward of the congregation. During the first part of the tenure of that office, Nagarjuna is said to have propitiated the goddess Chandika, by whose agency he succeeded in providing the great body of priests with the necessaries of life. He learnt other mystic arts, and by his religious practices he obtained the perfection of a Siddhi. The Nagas nsed to attend his sermoos in the shape of young boys and they invited him to their abode in the Nâge-land (nether-world), where he spent three months. He was asked to settle permanently there, but he declined on the ground of his being required to preach the sacred religionin Jambu Dwipa. He returned to Nálêndra with costly presents, and also with the religious volume called Naga Sahasrika. It was for this connection with the Nagas that he obtained the name of Nagarjuna. He afterwards visited many places, and then returned to his country, where he erected many chaityas and temples and composed many works on science, medicine, astronomy, and alchemy. When the high-priest of Nálêndra died, he succeeded him and matured the Madhyamika philosophy, which had been merely conceived by hia illustrious teacher and predecessor. He finaliy became the head of the whole Buddhist church. Nagarjuna is said to have been a great friend of King De-cbye (Sankara) of Southern Iudia, whom he had converted to Buddhism. Both the friends took vows of meeting a common lot, i. e., to live and die together. Nagarjuna being a saint, no messenger of death ever ventured to approach him. The friends, therefore, attained to unusual longevity, during which time the king witnessed successively the death of his many wives, children, and grandchildren. In his old age the king got a son who alone, fortunately, survived him. Once the mother of this prince prepared & handsome robe, which she desired him to wear. The prince did not use it, saying that he would do so when he became a king. The mother with a deep sigh exclaimed: Son, how vain is that hope? Thinkest thou, my darling, that the king, thy father, will ever die. He has obtained immunity from death which awaits all mortal beings but himself.' The prince replied: "Mother, must I not rule as a king since I am born as a prince ? Live or die, I shall be a king.' Seeing the sou's resolution, the mother revealed to him the secret of her husband's death, and said, "Go and beg Nagarjuna's head and that shall quicken thy succession to the throne. The prince accordingly went off at once in search of Nagarjuna and found him on the top of Sriparvata. Approaching the venerable Srámapa, he asked him to present him with his head. Nagarjuna knowing what brought him there, consented. The prince tried several strokes of his sword to cut the saint's throat, but in vain. Nagarjuna, seeing the ignorance of the prince, showed him the secret which could effect the cutting off of his head, by saying : Prince, hundreds of such swords would not sever my herd from the body, but go and bring that kusa grass which alone will effect it.' In one of his former births, Nagarjuna is said to have killed a worm by cutting its throat with a stick of kusa grass. On account of the inevitable consequences of karma in this life, that very person
