Untitled - Sabrizain.org

BIRMAH. 95
and Ava ; Shumunu, in Siam;* Amida Buth,f in
Japan ; Fohe, in China ; Boodhu and Shakhu Moonee
in Bengal and Hindoostan ; and Dhurmii Ra.jii and
Muha Moonee, in Bootan and Tibet."
The name under which the idol of Binnah is worshipped,
is, as we have seen, Godama (Guadma, Guatama),
the same as the Siamese Kodom, or Kodoma;
a word which is said to signify cow-herd, and, meta-
phorically, king; though Dr. Buchanan was assured
by a Hindoo pundit, that it implies the eminently
sage, which is the meaning of Boodha. There can be
no uoubt, that under this name a real personage is
intended, although it perhaps admits of question,
whether the Divine Philosopher to whom all these
titles refer, be the same. The Birmans, in common
with the other Buddhic nations, reckon three predecessors
of Guadma Budha. J The Zarado* or arch-
* Or Soramono-kodara : i. e. Kodam (Godama) the saint. He is
also known there under other titles, as Pra-phut, the high lord,
Y-thee-pee-so, Pa-ka-wa, Ora-hang, &c. By the Cingalese, he is
known under the name of Saka, or Sakya-muni, the astute sage.
This is sometimes written Xaca, and again Shaknun and Shakmuny,
and with the adjunct, burchan (the Tartar for deity), is
corrupted by Marco Polo into Sogomon-barchan. MARSDEN'S
Marco Polo, note 1354. FINIAYSON'S Siam, p. 253.
t Boodh, Buth, Phoodh, Fohi, are evidently the same word
under different forms. The Tamul, adding the termination en,
makes it Pooden; whence Wod-en. Amita, in Chinese O-mee-to,
the epithet applied to Buddha in China and Japan, is the Sanscrit
Amita, immeasurable, whence the Greek ap.crpov.
I " The religion of the Birmans," Colonel Francklin says, " is
that of the younger Buddha or Bhaddoo of the Hindoos, the
ninth incarnation of VUhnoo but the ; Birmans insist, that in his
character of Weethandra, a prince of Godomha-it, he is a tenth
incarnation of the divin'ty. The elder Buddha, or Rama the
conqueror of Ceylon, which, in the ancient Pali, is called Dewi
Lanca, they do not acknowledge as their legislator his ; history is
merely read as an amusing fable by their bards or musicians. I
have a co>y of his : history it agrees with the Indian legend, but