MOUNT GURUPADA, WHERE KAŚYAPA BUDDHA’S ENTIRE SKELETON IS.
(The travellers), going on from this three le to the south, came to a
mountain named Gurupada,[1] inside which Mahâkaśyapa even now is. He
made a cleft, and went down into it, though the place where he entered
would not (now) admit a man. Having gone down very far, there was
a hole on one side, and there the complete body of Kâśyapa (still)
abides. Outside the hole (at which he entered) is the earth with which
he had washed his hands.[2] If the people living thereabouts have a
sore on their heads, they plaster on it some of the earth from this,
and feel immediately easier.[3] On this mountain, now as of old, there
are Arhats abiding. Devotees of our Law from the various countries in
that quarter go year by year to the mountain, and present offerings
to Kâśyapa; and to those whose hearts are strong in faith there come
Arhats at night, and talk with them, discussing and explaining their
doubts, and disappearing suddenly afterwards.
On this hill hazels grow luxuriously; and there are many lions,
tigers, and wolves, so that people should not travel incautiously.
NOTES
[1] ‘Fowl’s-foot hill,’ ‘with three peaks, resembling the foot of a
chicken. It lies seven miles south-east of Gayâ, and was the residence
of Mahâkaśyapa, who is said to be still living inside this mountain.’
So Eitel says, p. 58; but this chapter does not say that Kâśyapa is in
the mountain alive, but that his body entire is in a recess or hole
in it. Hardy (M. B., p. 97) says that after Kâśyapa Buddha’s body was
burnt, the bones still remained in their usual position, presenting
the appearance of a perfect skeleton. It is of him that the chapter
speaks, and not of the famous disciple of Śâkyamuni, who also is
called Mahâkaśyapa. This will appear also on a comparison of Eitel’s
articles on ‘Mahâkaśyapa’ and ‘Kâśyapa Buddha.’
[2] Was it a custom to wash the hands with ‘earth,’ as is often done
with sand?
[3] This I conceive to be the meaning here.