DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.649#0142
CHAKDOE. 115
concealed at the bottom of the deep ocean. In their
benevolence, they intended, as soon as they obtained
possession of the water of life, to distribute it amongst
the human race as a powerful antidote against the strong
poison Hala hala, which the evil demons, at this period,
had been using with such mischievous effect against
mankind.
In order to procure the antidote they determined to
churn the ocean with the mountain Meru, and so cause
the water of life to rise to the surface of the sea. This
they did, and delivered the water of life to Vajrapani,
with orders to secure it safely until a future meeting,
when they would impart it to living beings. But the
monster Rahu1 (Tib. Dachan), a Lhamayin, happened to
hear of this precious discovery, and having carefully
watched Vajrapani's movements, seized an opportunity,
in the absence of the latter, to drink the water of life;
not satisfied with this act, he even voided his water
deliberately into the vessel. He then hurried away as
fast as possible, and had already proceeded a great
distance, when Vajrapani came home, and having per-
ceived the theft, instantly set out in pursuit of the culprit.
In the course of his flight Rahu had passed the sun and
1 In his "Manual of Buddhism,'' p. 68, Hardy has extracted from Singha-
lese books the following mythical measurements of Rfthu's hody: "Kami is
76,000 miles high; 19,000 miles broad across the shoulders; his head is
14,500 miles round; his forehead is 4,800 miles broad; from eye brow to
eye-brow he measures 800 miles; his mouth is 3,200 miles in size, and 4,800
miles deep; the palm of his hand is 5,600 miles in size; the joint of his
fingers 800 miles; the sole of his foot 12,000 miles; from his elbow to the
tip of his fingers is 19,000 miles; and with one finger he can cover the sun
or moon, so as to obscure their light."
8*
concealed at the bottom of the deep ocean. In their
benevolence, they intended, as soon as they obtained
possession of the water of life, to distribute it amongst
the human race as a powerful antidote against the strong
poison Hala hala, which the evil demons, at this period,
had been using with such mischievous effect against
mankind.
In order to procure the antidote they determined to
churn the ocean with the mountain Meru, and so cause
the water of life to rise to the surface of the sea. This
they did, and delivered the water of life to Vajrapani,
with orders to secure it safely until a future meeting,
when they would impart it to living beings. But the
monster Rahu1 (Tib. Dachan), a Lhamayin, happened to
hear of this precious discovery, and having carefully
watched Vajrapani's movements, seized an opportunity,
in the absence of the latter, to drink the water of life;
not satisfied with this act, he even voided his water
deliberately into the vessel. He then hurried away as
fast as possible, and had already proceeded a great
distance, when Vajrapani came home, and having per-
ceived the theft, instantly set out in pursuit of the culprit.
In the course of his flight Rahu had passed the sun and
1 In his "Manual of Buddhism,'' p. 68, Hardy has extracted from Singha-
lese books the following mythical measurements of Rfthu's hody: "Kami is
76,000 miles high; 19,000 miles broad across the shoulders; his head is
14,500 miles round; his forehead is 4,800 miles broad; from eye brow to
eye-brow he measures 800 miles; his mouth is 3,200 miles in size, and 4,800
miles deep; the palm of his hand is 5,600 miles in size; the joint of his
fingers 800 miles; the sole of his foot 12,000 miles; from his elbow to the
tip of his fingers is 19,000 miles; and with one finger he can cover the sun
or moon, so as to obscure their light."
8*