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His influence extends from the four continents up to the Paranirmita Vasvavartin Heaven; He spreads out the clouds diversified with every colour, ex- cites the varied brightness of the lightning, causes the changing peals of thunder, raises propitious breezes, distils fertilising showers. But though this Naga Rajah is well affected towards men, the good principles which prevail in the world are the real source of propitious rain falling. Again it is said that Anavatapta Naga Rajah raises the wide-spreading vapoury clouds which cover Jambudwipa and distil soft and nourishing rain, causing the various herbs and grain to spring up and floui-ish, and the fountains and rivers to swell with refreshing streams. The Saddharma Prakasa sasana Siitra says — "Down in the depths of the Great Sea 1,000 yojanas is a city named Hi- ' Chin-fau-chwang. * Fan-sun. SCRIPTURES FROM THE CHINESE. 40 loll/ its length and breadth 3^000 yojanas; it is occupied by Naga Rajahs. There are two sorts of Naga Rajahs: 1. Those who practise the Law of Buddha; 2. Those who do not do so. The first protect the world; the second are opposed to it. Where the good Dragons dwell it never rains hot sand, but the wicked Dragons are subject to this, and their palaces and followers are all burned up. When- ever men obey the Law, and cherish their parents, and sup- port and feed the Shamans, then the good Naga Rajahs are able to acquire increased power, so that they can cause a small fertilising rain to fall, by which the five sorts of grain are perfected in colour, scent, and taste. No destructive mildew can occur, the fruits are preserved, and the flowers excel in the loveliness of their tints. The Sun and Moon exert no malign influences, but impart a fertilising warmth, whilst no blighting winds are permitted to arise, to destroy the fruits of the earth. If, on the contrary, men are disobedient to the Law, do not reverence their parents, do not cherish the Brahmans and Shamans, then the power of the wicked dragons increases, and just the opposite effects follow ; every possible calamity happens to the fruits of the earth and to the lives of men. The Great Rain asking Sutra says- — " Buddha residing in the Palace of the Naga Rajah Upananda delivered the Law, and summoned to his presence the great-cloud com- pany of Dragons. There was the circle-hooded Sagara Naga Rajah, and all the other great Nagas ; amongst these, he with the mighty voice, he with the lightning tongue, he with the jewel hood, he with the snake's body, he with the 1,000 heads, he with the red eyes, he with the rolling thunder voice, etc., etc. All these being assembled, he instructed how they ought to bestow upon Jambudwipa great fertilising rain.^ ' Either the city of sportive joys, or the city called Hila or perhaps Hidda. - Mahfi mega mandala varsha-vardliana nama Sutra. ^ -According to the orthodox opinion the Xaga spirits are lords over E 50 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST ON THE COUNTRY OF THE GAEUDAS OR GOLDEN-WINGED BIRDS. 7. The Sutras say — " To the North of the great Ocean there is a large tree called Kutasalmaliji it is seven yojanas round at its root, and is embedded twenty yojanas in the ground. Its trunk grows one hundred yojanas high, and its branches spread fifty yojanas round. To the east of the tree are the palaces of the spawn-gendered dragons and Garudas, ex- tending over 600 yojanas. To the south of the tree are the palaces of Dragons and Garudas born from the womb. To the west of the tree those born from moisture have their abode. To the north of the tree those born by trans- formation. The King of these Garudas, when he wishes to seize the Dragons, flies up into the tree and looks down on the ocean; then he flaps his wings and divides the waters to the distance of 1,600 yojanas, on which he flies down and pecks up the Dragons just as he pleases and eats them. These birds eat all the four kinds of Dragons. They are not able, however, to seize Sagara Naga Rajah, or Nanda, or Upananda, or Ditarasa, or Anavatapta, or any of the Dragons who have entered on a religious life.^ ON THE COUNTRY OP THE ASURAS.'^ 8. The Sutras say — " To the east of Mount Sumeru, at a distance of 1,000 yojanas, is the territory of Vemachitra;^ the King of the Asuras. It is surmounted by the ocean and em- the wind, rain, thunder and lightning, but common books attribute these results to combinations of Yang and Yin. Ch. Ed. ■• Ku-cha-che-ma-li. A species of cotton tree. Vide E. Burnouf. - Once on a time, when the Dragons were tormented by the Garudas, they laid their case before Buddha, who gave them his Kasha robe to divide amongst them; whoever possesses a portion of this is exempt from any molestation by these birds. 3 The Asuras are not Devas either in point of power or bliss ; they are Devas in one sense, yet have not their superior merit, but on the contrary they are subject to violent passion. Ch. Ed. " Pi-ma-che-to-lo. SCRIPTURES FROM THE CHINESE. 51 braced by the wind, as a cloud is held by the air. Its length and breadth is 80,000 yojanas, a series of seven costly railings surround it, and also precious trees and gardens. The walls of the residence are 10,000 yojanas across, and the palace itself 1 ,000 yojanas across. The several palaces of the Asuras are within these precincts ; some small, others large. To the south of the mount is the palace of the Asura Bala-rajah.^ To the west of the mount is the palace of Savara-rajah.- To the north of the mount is the palace of E-ahu, Asura Rajah. The Saddharma prakasa sasana Sutra says: "Underneath the earth and the ocean are the abodes of the hateful enemies of the Devas, called Asuras. There are two kinds of them. 1 . Those who may properly be called demons, being hungry pretas with shapes like the Devil, possessing, however, a certain power of spiritual transformation. 2. Those born as beasts (or, in the shape of brutes). They occupy the l)order of Mount Sumeru, 84,000 yojanas below the sea and land. There are four territories belonging to them. 1. The territory of Rahu, 21,000 yojanas across. He is able to assume an apparitional body, great or small, according to his purpose, in any part of the Kama Rupa. The city he lives in is called ' shining bright' (prabhasa ?) ; it is 8,000 yojanas in length and breadth, and is adorned with precious groves, flowing streams and tanks. The years of his life are 5,000, each day and night of which is equal to 500 years of men. The second teri-itory is 21,000 yojanas below the former and occupied by Bala deva;^ Asura Rajah, in length and breadth 13,000 yojanas ; the city is called star-tassel* (Jyotiskandha ?) ; the years of his life 6,000, each day and night of which is equal to 600 years of men. The third territory is 21,000 yojanas below the former, where dwells an Asura Rajah called Suraskandha,'^ in length and breadth 13,000 yojanas; the city is called Havira,^ in length and breadth 8,000 yojanas ; the years of his life 7,000, each day and night of which is equal to 700 years of men. The • Yuncf-voh. ^ Surasklianda. Lohis 3. ^ Yuug-kieu. * Sing-mau. •' Fa-man. '' Han-pi-lo. E 2 52 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST fourth territory is the dwelhng-place of Vemachitva, 21,000 yojanas below the former ; the chief city is called Havira, 13,000 yojanas across." (The Suraiigama Siitra says that there are viviparous, oviparous, etc., Asuras also.) ON THE WAR OP THE ASURAS WITH THE DEVAS. 9. The Saddharma prakasa sasana Sutra says: "At the time when the Asuras engaged in conflict with the Devas, they first got the wicked Dragons to excite pernicious winds and rain to destroy the crops in Jambudwipa. The King of the good Dragons hereupon sent many messengers to warn them to desist from any such purpose. The wicked Nagas paid no attention to the warning. They came therefore to blows, and with thunder and fire the strife was carried on. At this time the power of the virtuous principles of men was great, so that the good Dragons gained a speedy vic- tory. A second time the Asuras dispatched their hosts to re-commence the struggle. At this time the power of wicked principles amongst men was great, so that the assembled armies of the Asuras put the good Nagas to flight.