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name Avalokitesvra； 〃On…looking Sovereign；〃 or even 〃On… looking Self…
Existent；〃 and means 〃Regarding or Looking on the sounds of the
world；〃=〃Hearer of Prayer。〃 Originally； and still in Thibet； Avalokitesvara
had only male attributes； but in China and Japan （Kwannon）； this deity
（such popularly she is） is represented as a woman； 〃Kwan…yin； the greatly
gentle； with a thousand arms and a thousand eyes；〃 and has her principal
seat in the island of P'oo…t'oo； on the China coast； which is a regular place
of pilgrimage。 To the worshippers of whom Fa…hien speaks； Kwan…she…yin
would only be Avalokitesvara。 How he was converted into the 〃goddess of
mercy；〃 and her worship took the place which it now has in China； is a
difficult inquiry； which would take much time and space； and not be
brought after all； so far as I see； to a satisfactory conclusion。 See Eitel's
Handbook； pp。 18…20； and his Three Lectures on Buddhism （third edition）；
pp。 124…131。 I was talking on the subject once with an intelligent Chinese
gentleman； when he remarked； 〃Have you not much the same thing in
Europe in the worship of Mary？〃
＇24＇ Compare what is said in chap。 v。
＇25＇ This nirvana of Buddha must benot his death； but his attaining
to Buddhaship。
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CHAPTER XVII
SANKASYA。 BUDDHA'S ASCENT TO AND DESCENT FROM
THE TRAYASTRIMSAS HEAVEN； AND OTHER LEGENDS。
From this they proceeded south…east for eighteen yojanas； and found
themselves in a kingdom called Sankasya；＇1＇ at the place where Buddha
came down； after ascending to the Trayastrimsas heaven；＇2＇ and there
preaching for three months his Law for the benefit of his mother。＇3＇
Buddha had gone up to this heaven by his supernatural power；＇4＇ without
letting his disciples know； but seven days before the completion （of the
three months） he laid aside his invisibility；＇4＇ and Anuruddha；＇5＇ with his
heavenly eyes；＇5＇ saw the World…honoured one； and immediately said to
the honoured one； the great Mugalan； 〃Do you go and salute the World…
honoured one。〃 Mugalan forthwith went； and with head and face did
homage at （Buddha's） feet。 They then saluted and questioned each other；
and when this was over； Buddha said to Mugalan； 〃Seven days after this I
will go down to Jambudvipa；〃 and thereupon Mugalan returned。 At this
time the great kings of eight countries with their ministers and people； not
having seen Buddha for a long time； were all thirstily looking up for him；
and had collected in clouds in this kingdom to wait for the World…
honoured one。
Then the bhikshuni Utpala＇6＇ thought in her heart； 〃To…day the kings；
with their ministers and people； will all be meeting （and welcoming）
Buddha。 I am （but） a woman； how shall I succeed in being the first to see
him？〃＇7＇ Buddha immediately； by his spirit…like power； changed her into
the appearance of a holy Chakravartti＇8＇ king； and she was the foremost of
all in doing reverence to him。
As Buddha descended from his position aloft in the Trayastrimsas
heaven； when he was coming down； there were made to appear three
flights of precious steps。 Buddha was on the middle flight； the steps of
which were composed of the seven precious substances。 The king of
Brahma…loka＇9＇ also made a flight of silver steps appear on the right side；
（where he was seen） attending with a white chowry in his hand。 Sakra；
Ruler of Devas； made （a flight of） steps of purple gold on the left side；
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（where he was seen） attending and holding an umbrella of the seven
precious substances。 An innumerable multitude of the devas followed
Buddha in his descent。 When he was come down； the three flights all
disappeared in the ground； excepting seven steps； which continued to be
visible。 Afterwards king Asoka； wishing to know where their ends rested；
sent men to dig and see。 They went down to the yellow springs＇10＇
without reaching the bottom of the steps； and from this the king received
an increase to his reverence and faith； and built a vihara over the steps；
with a standing image； sixteen cubits in height； right over the middle flight。
Behind the vihara he erected a stone pillar； about fifty cubits high；＇11＇
with a lion on the top of it。＇12＇ Let into the pillar； on each of its four
sides；＇13＇ there is an image of Buddha； inside and out＇14＇ shining and
transparent； and pure as it were of /lapis lazuli/。 Some teachers of another
doctrine＇15＇ once disputed with the Sramanas about （the right to） this as a
place of residence； and the latter were having the worst of the argument；
when they took an oath on both sides on the condition that； if the place did
indeed belong to the Sramanas； there should be some marvellous
attestation of it。 When these words had been spoken； the lion on the top
gave a great roar； thus giving the proof； on which their opponents were
frightened； bowed to the decision； and withdrew。
Through Buddha having for three months partaken of the food of
heaven； his body emitted a heavenly fragrance； unlike that of an ordinary
man。 He went immediately and bathed； and afterwards； at the spot where
he did so； a bathing…house was built； which is still existing。 At the place
where the bhikshuni Utpala was the first to do reverence to Buddha； a tope
has now been built。
At the places where Buddha； when he was in the world； cut his hair
and nails； topes are erected； and where the three Buddhas＇16＇ that
preceded Sakyamuni Buddha and he himself sat； where they walked；＇17＇
and where images of their persons were made。 At all these places topes
were made； and are still existing。 At the place where Sakra； Ruler of the
Devas； and the king of the Brahma…loka followed Buddha down （from the
Trayastrimsas heaven） they have also raised a tope。
At this place the monks and nuns may be a thousand； who all receive
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