Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c30.137

c30.137

**Worship of Images of Saints Installed in the Monasteries.** Lastly, Hiuen Tsang refers to another feature in the religious education of the monks in the practice of their offering worship to the images or pictures of their respective patron saints set up in connection with the monasteries. Thus in connection with the Mathurā monks he says: "The Abhidharma Brethren offer worship to Sāriputra, the Samādhists to Mudgalaputra, the Sūtraists to Pūrṇamaitriyāniputra, the Vinayists to Upāli, the Bhikshuṇīs to Ānanda, and the Śrāmaṇeras to Rāhula; and the Mahāyānists to the various P'usas" (i, 302). It may be noted in this connection that Fa-Hien refers to the slightly different practice of the monks offering worship not to the images, but to the topes attached to their monasteries such as those to Sāriputra, Maudgalyāyana, and Ānanda, as well as to the sacred texts, either the Sūtras or the Vinaya or the Abhidharma (i, 303).