- Author:
- Malcolm, Howard
- Publication Info:
-
Philadelphia:
American Baptist Publication Society,
1850,
pg 183
Text on page 183
BURMAH.
183
moment he was born, he jumped upon his feet, and, spreading out his arms, exclaimed, a Now am I the noblest of men ! This is the last time I shall ever be born ! a His height, when grown up, was nine cubits. His ears were so beautifully long, as to hang upon his shoulders; his hands reached to his knees; his fingers were of equal length ; and with his tongue he could touch the end of his nose! All which are considered irrefragable proofs of his divinity.
When in this state, his mind was enlarged, so that he remembered his former conditions and existences. Of these he rehearsed many to his followers. Five hundred and fifty of these narratives have been preserved, one relating his life and adventures as a deer, another as a monkey, elephant, fowl, and c., and c. The collection is called Dzat, and forms a very considerable part of the sacred books. These legends are a fruitful source of designs for Burman paintings. Of these I purchased several, which do but bring out into visible absurdity the system they would illustrate.
He became Boodh in the thirty-fifth year of his age, and remained so forty-five years, at the end of which time, having performed all sorts of meritorious deeds, and promulgated excellent laws, far and wide, he obtained a nicban,a that is, entered into annihilation, together with five hundred priests, by whom he had been long attended. This occurred in Hindustan, about two thousand three hundred and eighty years ago, or B. C. 546. The Cingalese make his death to have occurred B. C. 542, and the Siamese, who also reckon time from that era, make it B. C. 544. At his death, he advised that, in addition to obeying his laws, his relics and image should be worshipped, and pagodas built to his memory, till the development of the next Boodh. He is invariably represented in the same manner, except that sometimes he
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