The immense extent of country over which Buddhism prevails surely raises a strong presumption, that it was the root, and Cristnism a branch from it. M. Schegel has remarked, that in the temples of Buddha are to be found all the Pantheon of the idols of India; not only their theogony, but their heroical mythology; the same mysticism which teaches man to unite himself by contemplation to the Deity; and, that the chief difference between the Buddhists and Vishnuites consists in the former forbidding the shedding of blood either for sacrifice or food. But as Schegel justly observes, it is also considered to be a great virtue with the devotees of Vichnu to abstain from these practices. The Buddhists are allowed to have been at one time very numerous on this side the Ganges, but it is said they were exterminated or expelled. They are, however, beginning to reappear in the Djainas. M. Schegel says, “I know not in truth what difference one can establish between the new sectaries and the Buddhists.”[1] In the Transactions of the Asiatic Society[2] it is said, “The princes of the country continued Jains till the prince, in the time of Pratap, turned to Vishnou.” It is added, “the Buddists and Jains are the same.”
12. The following copy, in Moore’s Hindoo Pantheon, of an inscription which was found in Bengal, the very focus of the country of the Brahmins, is of itself, as its genuineness cannot be disputed, almost enough to prove the original identity of Cristna and Buddha. The address is said to be to the Supreme Being: “Reverence be unto thee in the form of Buddha: reverence be unto thee, Lord of the earth: reverence be unto thee, an incarnation of the Deity, and the eternal one: reverence be unto thee, O God! in the form of the God of mercy: the dispeller of pain and trouble: the Lord of all things: the Deity who overcomest the sins of the Kali Yug: the guardian of the universe; the emblem of mercy toward those who serve thee, om! the possessor of all things in vital form. Thou art Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesa;[3] thou art the Lord of the universe; thou art the proper form of all things, moveable and immoveable; the possessor of the whole, and thus I adore thee; reverence be unto thee, the bestower of salvation: reverence be unto thee, (Kesava,) the destroyer of the evil spirit, Kesi.—O Damordara! shew me favour. Thou art he who resteth upon the face of the milky ocean, and who lieth upon the serpent Sesha.”[4] Again, Mr. Moore says, “In Ceylon, the Singhalese have traditions respecting Buddha, that, like the legends of Krishna, identify him with his prototype, Vishnu.” I think with Mr. Moore and Major Mahony, that the identity of Buddha and Vishnu is clearly made out.[5]
I have been asked if they be identical, how are we to account for the wars? I answer, is not the religion of the Protestant and the Papist identical, that is, alike forms of Christianity? Then, how are we to account for their wars? As the wars of the West may be accounted for, so may those of the East.
In my last chapter I said, that the word om was used exactly like our word Amen. In the above prayer is a proof of what I there advanced, with this only difference, that it was not spoken but meditated on, in profound silence, at the end of the distich or the prayer. The worship of Cristna has been proved to have been in existence, at the temple of Mutra or Maturea on the Jumna, in the time of Alexander the Great. This accords with what Mr. Franklin[6] has observed, that the Buddhist statues dug up around the ruins of old temples in every part of India, prove that the religion of the country was formerly that of Java, which is that of Buddha. He regrets that they have hitherto been treated with neglect. The name of the island Java, is clearly the
