The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c11.11

v1.c11.11

The form of Buddhism which prevailed in the time of Hiouen Thsang was that of the "Great Translation" or the *Mahāyāna*, ⁶ i. e., the most developed form as settled at the Third Convocation in the time of Aśoka. But the "Little Translation" was not unknown at the time, and the first missionaries who brought the faith to Orissa long before the date of Aśoka, must have preached one or more of the earlier forms of the faith. The sculptures extant, however, do not afford any information on the subject, and it would require more space and time than I can spare to discuss it in all its detail in this place.