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0099 Antiquities of Indian Tibet : vol.2
Antiquities of Indian Tibet : vol.2 / Page 99 (Color Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000266
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CH. IV]

THE CHRONICLES OF LADAKH : TRANSLATION   8 3

Gzal-ras-gsal-la-nad-mdais (L MS. : no-dans)-gai-ba-bzai,

` A good and full [offering of] fresh scent to Gzal-ras-gsal (Avalokita),'

and presented it to the king. The king was much pleased, and erected the temple

of Byin-gyi-khod-mar-rdo (L MS. Byin-gyis-thog-niar-rdo) ; and before the image of

Spyan-ras-gzigs these letters (the sloka) were carved on stone. These are the earliest

inscription [in Tibet] and the oldest temple.

Then, at the invitation of Thon-mi-Sambhota, there came from Nepal the

incarnation of Khro-gner-ma (Bhrikuti), the Nepalese spouse Khri-btsun. Together

with her were brought the Lord Mi-skyod-rdo-rje (Akshobhya-vajra), Byams pa-ch,os-kyi-

hkhor-lo (Maitreya-dharma-cakra), and the Lady Sgrol-ma (Tara) of sandal-wood.'

Then the minister Rig-pa-can brought from China the incarnation of Sgrol-ma

(Tara), the queen and spouse Koji-jo. Together with her arrived [the image] of

the Lord Rin-po-che (Buddha).

Besides, [the following] worldly inventions were made :—rice-beer, barley-beer,

in short,

` All the necessaries for food ;

The making of curds from milk ;

Butter and butter-milk from curds ;

Cheese from butter-milk ;

Pots from clay ;

Mills turned by water ;

Weaving with looms ;

And many mechanical arts.'

Then, at Lha-sa, the incomparable monastery of Ra-ino-ehe and others were .erected.

Palaces were built on the Dmarpo-ri and on the Lcagszphori, and these two mountains

were connected with an iron chain-bridge. As many as 900 monasteries and castles

were built.

In his time the Indian teacher Kumara the Nepalese teacher Sila-manju, the

Kashmiri teachers Tabuta (L MS. Tabata) and_Gar a (L MS. Gha.nuta), the

Brahman Li-byin, and the Chinese teacher Ha-sari-mahádheba were invited. The trans-

lators (lo-tsa-ba) Thon-mi, Dhar-ma-go-sa, and Dpal-gyi-rdo-rje of Lha-luci translated

religious books in every possible manner and edited them.

During the lifetime of this king Rtsa-mi and Siii-mi of the east, Blo-bo and P. 32

Zan-zun of the south, and the Hor kingdoms of the north (Turkistan), and others

were brought under subjection, and the customs of the holy religion were introduced

into them.

1 The often-mentioned image of Akshobhya-vajra was seen by Sarat Chandra Das (Journey to Lhasa, p. 155) in the Ra-mo-che temple at Lhasa.—F. W. T.

NOTES

As regards local names, the following places are known :—The monastery of Ra-mo-che is stated by S. Ch. Das (Dictionary) to have been built on a plain, in the north quarter of Lhasa. But I do not believe that anybody has seen traces of it. Dmar-po-ri, ` the red hill,' is nowadays better known as Potala of Lhasa : Lcags-pho-ri, ` the iron hill,' is still known by its old name ; it is situated in the close vicinity of the former. As regards