The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-08-12
(New York Herald.)

!
OF Buddha, the renowned Oriental de-
ity, and of the magnificent statue of
him which was fashioned of some of
the costliest gems in the world But
for centuries these two splendid, if
somewhat barbaric, specimens of art
have been lost. and in the latter days
only the believers in the east and their
scattered brethren in the west give
any thought TO them, all others having
long since come TO the conclusion that
the throne and statue are either Of
legendary origin, or that, if they ever
existed, they are now irretrievably
lost
That neither of these views is correct
may be proved beyond the shadow of
doubt in very short time. There
is apparently much indisputable evil
dence that the throne and jeweled
statue formed at one time the crown
ing glories of the great temple of Bud
dha-Gaya, the ruins of which may be
seen near the borders of Thibet.
A few English archaeologists are so
convinced of the truth of the story
that they have for some time been at
work in the ruins, sedulously searching
for the long lost treasures.
g g g
Public attention is now drawn to
them and their work by Prince z.
Uchtomskij, a famous Russian trav-
eler and one of the greatest living au-
thorities on Oriental lore. For the last
few years he has been making re-
searches in the east, mainly in China,
Thibet and India, his main object be-
ing to ascertain the truth in regard
to the development and the mythology
of Buddhism The result of his tray
els may now be seen in valuable book,
which throws much light on the relig-
ious systems and seets of the east, and
which is further notable for the fact
that it contains many unique illustra-
lions of little known Oriental deities
and places of worship.
That the diamond throne and the
jeweled statue will eventually be found
in the ruins of Buddha-Gaya, Prince
Uchtomskij seems to consider highly
probable. AS to the origin of the
throne there are, as he points out.
many legends. The prevailing impress
sion, however, is that il was fashioned
from the offerings that were made from
time to time by the faithful at the
shrine Of their favorite god Buddhism
is not a creed that sanctions pOmp or
luxury, but immemorial custom seems
to decree that alteration shall on GER
tain occasions be expressed by gifts,
and it is quite probable that the dia-
mond throne originated in this way.
q @ @
In regard to the statue, tradition
says that it was made Of eight prec-
iOus .things-crystals, pearls, ivory,
corals. rubies, sapphires. amethyst and
emeralds, which were cunningly blend
ed together so as to form a matches
work Of art This statue. however. is
further memorable for the fact that
it was the first which was made of
the great Buddha; hence, though
countless statues have been made since
then, many of which may be seen to-
day in China, Thibet and other coun-
tries where Buddhism prevails, it is
only natural that extraordinary rev.
erence should attach to this jeweled
statue. which for centuries witnessed
the ObeisanceS of the faithful in the
shrine at Buddha-Gaya. That it may
be recovered, every Buddhist prays,
but that it will ever be found in its
entirety hardly any one believes
Prince Uchtomskij says that the arch
biologists only expect to find frag-
ments of it, but that even such dis
covery would be regarded as of i'm
mense interest. The only conclusion at
which one can arrive is that, if only
fragments of the statue are in the
ruins at Buddha-Gaya, some portions
of it must have been removed from
the shrine ages ago.
Here, then, is one reason why the
ruins at Buddha-Gaya are now of i'm
mediate interest, but there is another
and in the minds Of many persons,
still greater reason. This is the an
nouncement that steps are now being
taken to restore the old temple and TO
Headquarters for the followers of Bud
dha throughout the world.
For nearly 1000 years this temple Of
Buddha- Gaya, says Prince Uchtomskij,
has exercised a wonderful influence on
Buddhists. Several times it has fallen
into decay, but each time it has been
restored, the most notable restoration
taking place during the middle ages.
During recent years the ruined tenn
pies and shrines of the heather deities
in India have attracted much atten-
ton from English travellers and schol-
ars, and in many instances consider
able sums of money have been spent
for the purpose Of restoring them
q g g
1t may have been the impulse in this
direction which iInpelled Worshipers of
Buddha to undertake the restoration
of his shrine at Buddha-Gaya, though
an equally valid cause may be the
fact that Buddhism is now attracting
attention in quarters that paid no heed
to this form of worship a quarter of a
century ago. AS Prince Uchtomskij
aptly remarks, the influence Of the
! TheosophiSts throughout the world
must be taken into account when con-
sidering the proposed restoration of
Buddha-Gaya. Founded by the IA
4 TOlyr Tf,o 10
al society has today adherents in all
countries and, according to Prince
! Uchtomskij, it is this society which
has spurred on the influential Bud
| dhists of the east to undertake the res
/ toration OF the old temple at Buddha-
Gaya.
Restoration, however, is hardly the
| proper word, since the temple, when
rebuilt, viii not only be quite unlike
/ the old place of worship, but will also
be used for purposes of which Buddha
never dreamed. Noveleindeed are the
projects of those who are interested in
| this work. They aim, in a word, to
make a new temple at Buddha-G aya
which shall have for all believers in
Buddha the same significance that St
Peters at Rome has for all Roman
Catholics. Much more than this, how
ever, they propose to do Near the
! temple they intend TO build a college
and high schools, in which the theology
and philosophy of the Orient will be
fully laugh by cultured Buddhists.
and within stones throw of the
shrine will be the home Of a small
band of cosmopolitan adopts, whose
duty it shall be to look after the in
terests of all who come to Buddha-
Gaya, and who will apparently, there
fore, play much the same role as the
college of cardinals does in Rome.
Furthermore, a paper is to be pub
lished at Buddha-Gaya. and a library
which will contain some of the choicest
manuscripts of the east. is also to be