釋氏要覽 3.314

3.314

The Amoghapāśa-sūtra says: "These are the months of the Buddhas' supernatural powers." The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: "Śakra, Lord of the Devas, uses a great jewel mirror to illuminate the southern continent of Jambudvīpa in the first month, the western continent in the second month, and in both the fifth and ninth months illuminates the southern continent, in order to inspect people's good and evil deeds. Therefore, the people of the southern continent mostly eat vegetarian food and cultivate good during these months." Hence the sūtra speaks of "the three long fasts of the year." Another explanation says: "Vaiśravaṇa, the Heavenly King of the North, patrols and inspects the good and evil of the four continents. In the first month he reaches the southern continent, and just as with the mirror's illumination, in both the fifth and ninth months he inspects the southern continent; hence [the practice]."