Indian Antiquary Vol 01

SR No.: 032493
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 22 MB

Page 285

AUGUST 2, 1872.]
ARCHÆOLOGY IN BOMBAY.
253
the Rákshasas in Ceylon to anti-Buddhist ten- | referring to the fact that the account furnished by dencies.
D'Alwis had already shown that one of the versos
of the Des'aratha-Játaka was reproduced in the 6. It is uncertain in how far the story
Ramayana, Weber quotes his own conjecture (ante of Rama and Sita, as contained in its
p. 124), that "an acquaintance with the whole of earliest form in the Dasarath a-J &ta ka,
the Pâli text might bring to light still further coinmay have a historical germ, or whether
cidences of a similar nature." This conjecture, he even that earliest version may not also have had
here says, has been fully confirmed. According as its ground work, in addition to such a germ, to Fauslöll, there are two other verses in this Budwhat Valmiki has undoubtedly interwoven dhist version which are found also in the Ramainto his representation of the story, namely, the yana; for although the parallel is not so close as adoration of & demi-god, bearing the name of to be a word for word reproduction, yet the verscs R & ma, and regarded as the guardian of agri
are identically the same in substance as those in the
Pali text. These are, v. 5 of the Das'aratha-Jataculture, but hindered in his beneficent activity
ka found in Rámáyana, II. 105, 15 (Schlegel and by a temporary exile (possibly the wmter), also in the corresponding chapters in Gorresio and and also of the field-furrow deified under the
Carey-Marshman); and v. 10 in Rám. II. 108, 3 name of Sit A.
(Schlegel, and in both the other cditions). And it is 7. The extreme mildness, which is the pro- further worthy of notice that both the remaining minent feature ir: Rama's chwacter as represent- portion of Rám. II. 105 contains several additional ed by Valmiki, is in this form an inheritance distinct allusions to the words of the PAli text, and from the Buddhist legend. It is possible that,
that the verse of the Ramayana which corresponds in the course of time, Christian elements may
to the 10th verse of the Das'aratha-Játaka is put
into the mouth of Jabali, who is represented in also have found their way into the representa
the Brahmanical poem as the representative of the tion (Sabarî, Sambuka &c.)
nastik A-wisdom, and whose words give occa8. Valmiki appears to have belonged to a tion to Rama's sharp rotort and to his well-known school of the Yajurveda, the sagas of which attack upon Buddhahe has interwoven into his narrative (añgaragn, yathâ hi coraḥ sa tatha hi Buddhas, tathaJanaka, As vnpati); and we may conclude gatam nâstikam atra viddhi. that his birth-place was probably somewhere
It is true, says Weber, that Schlegel has cast suspiin the neighbourhood of Ayodhya
cion upon the anthenticity of this passage ; but whether he was justified in doing so appears at least ques
tionable in the light of the new information we have Professor Weber contributes to the Literarisches on the subject. At all events the whole of this Centralblatt of 30th Dec. last, a notice of “The Das'a- section of the Ramayana has now acquired special ratha-Játaka being the Buddhist story of King Râmna; importance; and a collation of all the available the original Páli text, with a translation and notes by manuscripts of the same is therefore greatly to V. Fausböll, Kopenhagen, 1871." In this notice, be desired.
Note.
ARCHÆOLOGY IN BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.
(Extract from the Administration Report for 1870-71.) THE materials collected from an examination of cutta and Madras. It has been proposed to cause the ancient temple of Ambarnath, by the party of copies of the crchitectural drawings to be made in artists sent to that place in 1868, and mentioned in England, by the carbon or other process for distrithe Administration Report of that year, have been bution among learned persons and institutions and utilized. Six sets of the casts and photographs of museums. the temple have been completed, and one set of at the request of Government Mr. Burgess drew architectural drawings made. One of each of the | up, in August 1870, a Memorandum on the Survey former and the single set of drawings were sent to of the Architectural and other archaeological reEngland for the last International Exhibition, to be mains in the Bombay Presidency and surrounding eventually handed over to the Secretary of State territories, appending amongst others" a list of for India. Out of the remaining photographs and places chiefly in the Nizam's territory, at which casts, two sets have been already ordered to be sent Himadpanti or other remains are said to exist." to England and one to each of the museums at Cal- At a subsequent date the same gentleman addressed
• The circumstance, too that the Rams-worship has never to the earnest moral tone which as a beneficium ab origine, it degenerated, either like that of Krishna in sensual excesses, preserves are heritage from the same source. or like that of S'iva into bloody orgies, is undoubtedly due