________________ 184 Homage to Vaisali ornaments to fit up variously coloured Licchavis. The art of architecture was also much developed in Vaisalil. They were equally enthusiastic in the building of temples, shrines, and monasteries, for the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus themselves superintended the construction of these buildings for the Order. As regards the marriage rites of the Licchavis, there were rules, according to Tibetan books, restricting the marriage of all girls born in Vaisali to that city alone. The Vaisalians made a law that a daughter born in the first district could marry only in the first district, and not in the second or third. No marriage was to be contracted outside Vaisali.8 A Licchavi who wanted to marry could ask the corporation (Licchavigana) to select a suitable bride for him. The Vaisalians appear to have a high idea of female chastity. Violation of chastity was a serious offence amongst them. A Licchavi raja was enamoured of the beauty of a married woman whose husband be engaged as an officer under him. He wanted to gain her love but in vain.4 The punishment for a woman who broke her marriage vow was very severe. The husband could with impunity even take away her life. An adulterous woman could save herself from punishment by entering the congregation of nuns by getting ordination. A Licchavi wife committed adultery; the husband warned her many times but she heeded not. The corporation was informed by him that he would put an end to the life of his wife because she committed adultery. He then asked the corporation to select a suitable wife for him. His wife knowing that she would be killed became a nun. The Vaisalians adopted various methods to dispose of the dead. Besides cremation and burial, the custom of exposing the dead to be devoured by wild animals seems to have been in existence in Vaisali. The Vaisalians burnt corpses there and the bones were preserved in heaps. The corpses were hung from the trees; there were others buried there such as had been killed by their relatives fearing lest they should be 1. Lalitavistara, Ch. III, p. 23. 2. Cullavagga, VI, (Vinaya Texts, S.B.E., Vol. XX, pp. 189-90). 3. Rockhill, Life of the Buddha, p. 62. 4. Petuvatthu-atthakatha (Simon Hewavitarana's Bequest Series, No. 1), pp. 154-156. 5. Vinaya Pitaka (Oldenberg) IV, pp. 225-226. 6. Bhikkhuni-vibhanga-sanghadidesa, II, p. 225.
