Asiatick Researches, Or, Transactions of the Society Instituted in Bengal, for Inquiring Into the History and Antiquities, the Arts, Sciences, and Literature of Asia (Volume 7) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: u. On SINGHALA, Or CEYLON, AND THE DoElrines of Bhooddha;. FROM THE BOOKS OF THE SINGHALAIS. CAPTAIN MAHONY. B j A CCORDING to the opinions of the Singhalais? . and from what appears in their writings, the uni- verfe perifhed ten different times, and by a wonderful operation of nature was as often produced a-new. For the government of the world at thofe different periods, there were 22 Bhooddhas, a proportionate number of whom belonged to each period. Bcfides this, the Singhalais affert, from record, the total deftruclion and regeneration of'the univerfe many other times; the written authorities for which are no longer to be found. For the government of the prefent univerfe which is to be confidered in addition to thofe above ftated, five Bhooddhas are fpecified; four of whom have already appeared;?Kakoosandeh Bhooddha, Kona- Cammeh, Kaserjeppeh, and Gautemeh; and the fifth, Maitree, is ftill to come. This laft Bhooddha will be born of a Braminee woman: and though the place of a Bhooddha is now vacant in the world, yet there exifts a Sahampattu Maha Brachma, or Supreme of all the Gods, who has it under his peculiar guidance. The laft of the above-mentioned four Bhooddhas (gautemeh ) is the one whofe religion now prevails in Ceylon and of whom it is here intended to make fome mention. The word Bhooddha, in the Pake and Singhalai languages," implies, Univerfal Knowledge or Holinefs; alfo a Saint fuperior to all the Saints, even to the God Maha Brachma; and is underftood in thefe various fenfes by the natives o'f Ceylon. The Bhooddhists fpeak of 26 heavens, which they divide in the following manner. ift, The Deveh Loke, confifting of 6: 2d, the Brachmah Lake, confifting of 16; 5 of which are con- fidered as Triumphant Heavens: and 3d, the...