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That is Kapilavastu, the substance of Kapila, where the Buddha was born. In the Lalita Vistâra it is fairyland. There, Gotama the Buddha is the Prince Charming of a sovereign house. But a prince who developed into a nihilist prior to re-becoming the god that anteriorly he had been. It was while in heaven that he selected Mâyâ, a ranee, to be his mother.
What, then, are the jewels of the Buddhist which he would fain see in the world's spiritual treasury? He will tell you that he has many jewels, but that three of them stand out conspicuously the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. Must we not pronounce it the finest of religious narratives, and thank the scholars who made the Lalita Vistara known to us?
In the Northern Buddhist literature embracing both the "Romantic Legend" and the "Lalita Vistara" many incidents of Buddha's childhood are given which show a seeming coincidence with the life of Christ.
The Lalita Vistara, a Sanscrit work of the Northern Buddhists "full of extravagant fictions" concerning the early portion of Gautama's life.
Harani observed, "Her figure is very wooden." Pramada added, "The woman's bust is like that of a play actor, it has no grace." In this manner it soon appeared that the beautiful Boisnavi was of unparalleled ugliness. Then Lalita said, "Whatever her looks may be, she sings beautifully." But even this was not admitted. Chandra Mukhi said the singing was coarse; Mukta Keshi confirmed this criticism.
A year or two later the twins separated. But the elder was a wise boy and never forgot to worship the goddess Parwati on Lalita Panchmi Day. So he retained the riches which he had gained. But the younger was foolish and forgot all about it, so the goddess began to dislike him, and he lost all his money.
An English translation by Bigandet of a Burmese account, which was itself a translation of unknown date made from a Pali version. An account of the death of Gautama, given in Pali and said to be the oldest of all the sources. It is full of wonders created by the fancy of the unknown author, but differs widely from the fancy sketches of the Lalita Vistara of the North. A translation by Mr.
The Romantic Legend, from the Sanscrit of the Northern Buddhists, translated into Chinese in the sixth century A.D.; English version by Beal published in 1875. This also is an extravagant poem. This and the Lalita Vistara embrace most of the alleged parallels to the Life of Christ.
Another work, as sacred and more mystic, is the "Parajika," read in the temples with closed doors by the chief priests exclusively, and only to such devotees as have entered the monastic schools for life. The "Lalita Vistara" contains the life of Buddha, and is esteemed the highest authority as to the more remarkable events in the career of the great reformer.
Davids compares it to Milton's Paradise Regained, as a source of history, and claims that although parts of it were translated into Chinese in the first century of our era, there is no proof of its existence in its present form earlier than the sixth century A.D. Two Thibetan versions, based chiefly on the Lalita Vistara.
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