On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c17.s3.14

v2.c17.s3.14

dal-wood-ear”.¹ By these names is probably indicated a tree-fungus, or some aromatic mushroom. In the Chinese language a common name for any parasitical tree-fungus is *mu-erh* (木耳) or “tree-ear”, and among Buddhist monks and their friends mushrooms are well known as *Ho-shang-jou* or “Monks’ flesh-meat”. I agree with Neumann that the pious blacksmith was not likely to cook pickled pork for the Buddha, and think that *fungus* or *mushroom* should be taken to be the meaning of *sūkara-maddava*.