Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c23.8

c23.8

In India the only examples of Burmese dates that have hitherto been met with are in the few Burmese inscriptions found at the Mahâ-bodhi temple at Buddha Gaya. Three of these, which refer to the Great Temple itself, are of so much importance that I gladly take this opportunity of giving my readings of their dates. The longest inscription is on a stone slab which was found by the Burmese embassy fixed in one of the inner walls of the Mahant's residence. Three translations of it have been published,—1st, by Ratna Pala, a Singhalese Pali scholar; 2nd, by Colonel Burney; and 3rd, by Mr. Hla Oung, a Burmese scholar. The inscription professes to record the history of the original building and the successive repairs of the temple. Two dates are given in figures, accompanied, in each case, by the day of the week as well as the day of the month. The following is a brief abstract of this valuable record:—