English
This figure is found in many magical diagrams, and in Bunic inscriptions and amulets ; it is the hammer of Thor ; and is seen on some ancient Etruscan va^es that were dug up at Kome, in 1817. It is also very commonly seen on the ancient coins that were struck by the Budhist monarchs of India. t A sea-monster ; the upper extremity of its body being like an antelope, and the lower like a fish. It answers in the Indian zodiac to the Caprioomua of the west. 382 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. whatever is desired, a kindnrd, a cbanda-kindnrd, an Indian cnckoo, a peacock, the bird kos-lihiniya, a brahmanj kite, a Greek partridge, the six d^wa-ldkas, and sixteen brahma-ldkas.* (2.) The thirty- two Maha - pnmsha - lakshana or snperior Beauties. — 1. The feet of Bndha were like two golden sandals. 2. There was a chakra, or wheel, in the centre of the sole. 8. His heels were like balls of gold, but extremely soft. 4. His fingers tapered gradually to the end. 5. The palms of his hands, and the soles of his feet, were as soft as cotton dipped in oil. 6. The palms and soles appeared like richly ornamented windows. 7. His instep was high. 8. His legs were like those of an antelope, round and full. 9. His arms were straight, and so long that without bending he could touch his knee. 10. His secret parts were concealed, as the pedicle of the flower is hid by the pollen. 11. His skin was soft and smooth, as an image polished by the tooth of a tiger. 12. His body did not collect dust or dirt, as the lotus is not defiled by the mud in the midst of which it grows. 13. The hair on his body was smooth, not rough or straggling. 14. All the hairs of his body curled towards the right hand. 15. His body was perfectly straight. 16. The soles, palms, shoulders, and back, were rounded and full. 17. The upper part of his body was full, Hke that of a lion. 18. His antardsas were like a golden oven. 19. His body was high, like a banian-tree, and round, like the same tree, i.e. the breadth was proportioned to the height. 20. His neck was like a golden drum. 21. The seven thousand nerves of taste all bent towards the tongue, so that he was sensible of the slightest flavour. 22. He had a lion's strength. 23. His forty teeth were all of equal size. 24. His teeth were perfectly white, as if made from a conch shell. 25. His teeth were like a row of diamonds, without any orifices. 26. His teeth shone like the stars of a constellation. 27. His tongue was so long that by putting it out he could touch his forehead, or the orifices of his ears. 28. His voice was eight-toned, like that of Maha Brahma, and melodions as that of the Indian cuckoo. 29. His eyes were blue, and sparkled like sapphires. 30. His eyes were round, like those of a new- bom calf. 31. Upon his forehead * The order in which these signs are enumerated is not alvnjs the sane. T have taken more pains than the matter is worth, to procure a perfect list, but some signs are yet wanting to complete the number required. VIU. DIGNITY, VIRTUES, AND POWERS OF BUDHA. 383 was a lock of liair, cxirling towards the right.* 32. Upon his forehead, extending from ear to ear, was, as it were, a frontlet. (3.) The eightj Annwyanjana-lakshana, or inferior Signs. — 1. The form of Bndha was beantifnlly moulded ; the members of his body were proportioned to each other; his body was round or plump ; his nails were of a copper colour, high in the centre and sloping to the sides, and smooth ; the calf of the leg was strong and firm; the sole was flat, so as to touch the ground in all places alike ; his gait was like that of the royal elephant, lion, hansa, and bull ; the hair of his body inclined towards the right hand ; his knees were well rounded ; the navel had no perforation, it was deep, and bent towards the right hand ; his shoulders were like those of the royal elephant ; his members were properly divided; proportionate, full, ex- tremely soft, and well put together, so as to be easily known or distinguished ; his body was without a spot, symmetrical, pure, and clear; he had the strength of a kela of elephants; his nostrils were high ; his gums were red ; his teeth were clean, round, and well set ; his senses were very acute ; his lips were red ; his mouth was long ; the lines on his hands were long, deep, straight, and auspicious ; his temples were full ; his eyes were long and broad, and of five rays ; his hair was gradually turned ; his tongue was soft, thin, and red ; his ears were long ; his head was well made, round, without any irregularities, and not thick ; his body was erect, like an umbrella ; his forehead was long and broad; his eye-brows were soft, uniform, large and long ; his body was soft, shining, and emitted a pleasant smell ; the hair of his body was uniform, soft, and of a blue colour; the drawing of his breath was gentle, almost imper- ceptible ; his mouth smelt sweetly ; the hair of his head was blue, soft, uniform, not tangled, and in just proportion ; and his body emitted rays to the distance of a carpenter's cubit.f (^PujdwaJiya.) * Among the ancient Egyptians, figuree of the gods were distinguished by the heard turning up at the end.^Wilkinson's Ancient Egyptians. t It is difficult to tell vhy many of the signs here enumerated are called beauties ; and the whole series taken together presents a singular standard of taste. The superior signs are repeat-ed among the inferior ; and even in tho same class there is a constant repetition of the same idea, which renders the translation of some of the terms difficult ; different epithets being used, particularly with regard to the attribute of softness, but all hayinfc the same 384 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. 6. The Deportment and Virtues of Budha. There are sixty hours in the day, thirty of which belong to the night, which is divided into three watches, of ten hours each. Budha slept during one-third of the third watch, or three hours and ono third. In the first watch he said bana ; in the second watch he answered questions put to him by the d^was ; and in the first division of the third watch he slept, in the second exercised meditation, and in the third looked abroad in the world to see what being or beings should be caught in the net of truth during the day. (Amdwatura.) There was a learned brahman, called Brahmdyu, who resided in the city of Mithila. To the same place came G6tania Budha ; and when the brahman heard of his arrival, knowing his fame, he commanded his disciple Uttara to go and test his knowledge. The disciple enquiring how he was to know Budha, Brahmayn replied, " You might as well ask how you are to know the earth upon which yon tread; have you not read, and have I not taught you from the four Vedas, that such and such are the signs of a Budha." Uttara then went to the wihara, where he remained seven months ; after which he returned to Brahmdyn, and informed him in what way the sage conducted himself, setting forth at length the beauties of his person, and the pro* priety of his behavionr in all circumstances and upon all occasions. Uttara proceeded : When Budha walks, he places his right foot first, whether he has been sitting, standing, or lying. He does not take wide strides, but walks at a solemn pace ; nor does he take short steps; even when late, he does not walk too quickly, but like a priest passing along with the alms-bowl. He does not wait for the priests when they have lagged behind ; he does not strike his knees or his ankles against each other when he is walking ; he does not lift his shoulders up, like a man in si^ificaticn. In some inslances there appear to be oontradictioiis. — ^Tbe king of Sikgal objected that the prince Sidhartta could not have had the beauties that are attributed to him, because thej were not possessed by either of his parents, and the child must be like its father or its mother ; but JSdgasena referred him to the beautiful lotus, with its hundred different hues, which is formed in the water and springs from the mud, but neither in colour, odour, or taste, is like the elements from which it is produced. — One of the titles of the king of Siam is, " the pre-eminently merciful and munificent, the soles of whose feet resemble those of Budha." VIII. DIGNITY, VIRTUES, AND POWERS OF BUDHA.