Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

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THE TRAVELS OF FA-HIEN
CHAPTER XXXIX
Cremation of an Arhat—Sermon of a Devotee
South of the city seven li there is a vihara, called the Mahavihara,
where three thousand monks reside. There had been
among them a Sramana, of such lofty virtue, and so holy and
pure in his observance of the disciplinary rules, that the people
all surmised that he was an Arhat. When he drew near his
end, the king came to examine into the point ; and having assembled
the monks according to rule, asked whether the bhikshu
had attained to the full degree of Wisdom. They answered
in the affirmative, saying that he was an Arhat. The
king accordingly, when he died, buried him after the fashion
of an Arhat, as the regular rules prescribed. Four or five li
east from the vihara there was reared a great pile of firewood,
which might be more than thirty cubits square, and the same
in height. Near the top were laid sandal, aloe, and other
kinds of fragrant wood.
On the four sides of the pile they made steps by which to
ascend it. With clean white hair-cloth, almost like silk, they
wrapped the body round and round. They made a large car-
riage-frame, in form like our funeral car, but without the
dragons and fishes.
At the time of the cremation, the king and the people, in
multitudes from all quarters, collected together, and presented
offerings of flowers and incense. While they were following
the car to the burial-ground, the king himself presented flowers
and incense. When this was finished, the car was lifted on the
pile, all over which oil of sweet basil was poured, and then a
light was applied. While the fire was blazing, every one, with
a reverent heart, pulled off his upper garment, and threw it,
with his feather-fan and umbrella, from a distance into the
midst of the flames, to assist the burning. When the crema-
tion was over, they collected and preserved the bones, and pro-
ceeded to erect a tope. Fa-hien had not arrived in time to see
the distinguished Shaman alive, and only saw his burial.
At that time the king, who was a sincere believer in the Law
of Buddha and wished to build a new vihara for the monks,
first convoked a great assembly. After giving the monks a