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The clash of these arms was like the stroke of the lightning ; and the tnmultnons commotion that was produced was like the waves of the sea. This account appears at length in the work called Samsmtaktita-wamnandwa. All this having been perceived by Budha, he left the J^t^wana wihira early in the morning, out of compassion to the n&gHB ; and the dewa Samidhi-sumana, taking up a kiripalu tree that grew near the door, held it over his head as a screen or canopy, whilst he passed through the air. On arriving at the place of combat, Budha remained in the air, within sight of the warriors ; and when he had attracted their attention, he first caused a thick darkness to appear, and then a dazzling light, like that of the sun. The sage also delivered unto them a discourse, by which he induced them to be reconciled to each other. The combatants then threw down the weapons that they held in their hands, and brought various kinds of offerings, which eachyaka,;}; attended by a female demon, presented to Budha. They then requested him to alight, which he did, and sat upon the throne of gems. After he had partaken of some divine food that they brought him, he gave to them the three-fold formulary of pro- tection, and delivered anotl^er discourse for their benefit. For the increase of their merit, he appointed as objects of worship the throne upon which he sat, and the tree that had been brought through the air by the d6wa. In the name of the whole assembly of the yakds, these relics were received, and the three kings, Chul(5dana, Mah6dana, and Mani, united together to secure their northern extremitj. The seaport Jambukdla was in it, supposed to be Colombogam, in the district of Jaffna. At this place a digoba was erected, and Mallaka N^iga built a wihdra, a.d. 674. * This rock is said to be in the Seven Korles. t This is the second rirer in Gejlon, in point of magnitude, but it whole course is said not to exceed sixty miles. It rises in Adam's Peak, and falls into the sea a little to the north of Colombo, near which plaoe it is crossed by a bridge of boats. } They ore first called nagas, and afterwards yaki^. VII. LEGENDS OF G<5tAMA BUDHA. 215 preservation, that thej might long continue to be a benefit and protection to Lankd. The third journey of G6tama to Ceylon was made in the eighth year after he had received the Budhaship. At the request of the priest Sundparantaka, he entered the golden palanquins presented by the guardian dewas, along with 500 rahats, and went to the hall built by some merchants, called Chandana- mandala, in the forest of Mulu, in the region called Sunapai*an- taka, where he preached to those who were present, remaining there several days. After this, at the request of Punna, he went to the town of Supp4raka, where many merchants were congre- gated ; and to them also he delivered a discourse. From this place, on his way to Sewet, he went to the Nirmmad£ river,* at the request of the n^ga king of the same name ; and at this place he partook of food presented by the nagas, to whom he preached, and gave the benefit of the three-fold protective for- mulary. In compliance with the earnest entreaty of the ndga king, he left an imprint of his foot on the bank of the river, in the midst of a sandy desert, on a spot that is occEisionally covered by the waves. This impression may still be seen in the Yon country, at a place where the waves strike upon a sand-hill, and they again retire. It is only on the retiring of the waves that the mark of the foot can be seen. From the river, Gotama went to the rock Sachabadha, upon the summit of which, at the request of a priest of the same name, he made an impression of his foot in clay. From the rock Sachabadha, Budha came to Ceylon. The first place he visited was the residence of the ndgas in the river Kal- yana,t the water of which previously falls upon the mountain * The geological features of the Nirmxnadi, the present Nerbudda, and the Kamadus of Ptolemy, appear to be more than usually interesting, from the yarioos notices that are given of them in the Journal of the Bengal Asiatic Society. There are several remarkable waterfalls in the course of the stream, each of which has its pecoliar tradition, but I have not been able to identify the spot that is said to hare been visited by Budha. Ptolemj mentions a town called Siripalai on the Nerbudda, where it is joined by the Mophis or Myhes. This ought probably to be Sripdda, or " the illustriow* foot," the name by which these icnpressions are still known. The present name of the river mav have risen from some legend connected with Budha. The hill T^ Kothi, near Bhawun, of which a sketch is given in the third volume of the Journal, plate 23, is 150 feet high ; both its name and appearance would indicate th^^t it is of Budhistical origin. t ** The village cf Kellania, or Xalv&na, situated five miles from Colombo, possesses considerable attractions to those interested in the ancient history of 216 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. Sanantakuta, as if to clear it from all imparities. It is therefore called Kaljana, pleasing, or that which brings prosperity. The dagoba of Kaljana was subsequently erected upon the spot where G6tama sat at the residence of the nagas. After par- taking of food^ and delivering a discourse, he left an impression of his foot in the bed of the river, that it might be worshipped, and be an assistance to the ndgas. The d6wa of Samantakdta,* ■ Ceylon. It was probably the capital, as it has been the chief place for the worship, of Weebeesana, son of Pulastyia, £riend of B&ma, the traitorous brother and deified successor of Bawana. The following romantic events aro to be found in Singhalese history. The beautiful queen of Kellania Tissa haying been seduced by his brother, and their mteroourse detected, he 6ed to Gampala, and from thence sent an emissary disguised as a priest ; this person was instructed to mix in the crowd of those who went daily with the high priest to receive their alms, at which time he might find an opportunity of delivering a letter to the queen, who always assisted at this ceremony. The letter was full of the misery of the irriter, and stated that his affection was undiminished ; but neither the place from whence the letter came, nor the name of the writer, was mentioned. The disguised messenger dropped the letter, and the king hearing it fall, seized and read it. The writing con- vinced him that it was from the high priest, who was ordered to be thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil ; the queen was bound and cast into the river ; and the messenger cut in pieces. It afterwards appeared that the king's brother, having been a pupil of the high priest, had acquired the art of exactly imitating his writing. Not long after these events, the sea began to encroach rapidly upon the west and south coasts of Ceylon. The king believing that it was a judgment against liim for the cruel and unjust death of the priest, determined to sacrifice his virgin daughter, as an offering to the god who con- trolled the waters. Having secured her in a covered canoe, on which was inscribed her fate and its cause, the canoe was launched into the ocean. The flood stUl increasing, the king mounted his elephant and proceeded to view the destructive effects of the raging waters. Whilst thus employed, the earth opened, and the king disappeared amidst flames which burst from the sinking wreck of his richest provinces. Before the waves ceased to encroach on the land, 640 villages (470 of which were principally inhabited by divers for pearls) had been overwhelmed, and the distance between Kellania and the sea coast had been reduced from twenty -five to four miles. The canoe in which the young princess was confined, having been driven towards the south-west of the island, was discovered and brought to land by some fishermen. This was in the M&gam-pattoo, at that time a separate kingdom, under K&?ran- tissa, who hearing of the canoe and its mysterious appearance, went to examine it. On perceiving the inscription, he released the princess, whom he named Wihir<5 "DSwi and afterwards married. Wihdr^ Dewi became the mother of Butugemunu, a prince who restored the Singhalese power, and expelled the Malabars, to whom Kellania Tissa and Kawantissa had been tributaries. Many Budhists beUeve that in some future transmigration WihAro Dowi will be the mother of Maitri, the expected Budha." — Forbes, Ceylon Almanac, 1834.