History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.10

v1.c14.10

The deplorable state of Buddhism of this time can be gathered from the story of the Samāni (Śramaṇa) recluse of the Navavihāra related in the Chacha-nāma. Like Hinduism Buddhism had drifted by this time from the highest philosophy into the grossest superstition and idolatry. This monk was supposed to be a great sorcerer of wonderful powers and Chacha was told that he had assisted Agham with his powers and enabled him to prolong the siege for more than a year. Chacha resolved to have him killed by his swordsmen and went to see him. He was fashioning clay idols of Buddha with his own hand. He did not at first notice the all-powerful king Chacha who for a time stood by him. Having finished his work of idol-making the Samani noticed the king and asked him to sit down offering him a grass mat. Chacha sat and eventually left, not only without having him killed but after promising to help him in repairing the Navavihāra. When asked why he had changed his mind Chacha said he saw a devil hovering above himself ready to pounce upon him! Such were the strange superstitious beliefs of the day about the necromancy of Buddhist monks.