tilaka-parama-vedhasamua-pavitra-siicarita-cita to
declare the uposatha Dharma-sarga-bud/ia. They
also established a vihara (monastery) known as Vihara
Srt-phala.1
There is a curious inscription, which, according
to Sir Charles Elliot, asserts the identity of Buddhism
and Brahraanism.* It was engraved on the pedestal
of an image of Siva, found at Sukhodava and dated
1432 Saka («A. D. 1510).
The inscription says that in 1432 Saka, the lord
Phraya £rl Dharmasokaroja errected a statue of the
god Phra; Isvara (Siva) in the province of Kampheng-
Phet. It appears strange that this image of Siva
might be meant to exalt the Buddhist religion and the
Brahmanic religion. Siva is a Hindu god, we donot
understand how he could exalt Buddhism. We have
heard of kings, who made donations to both Hindu
and Buddhist temples, but of no king who could use
a Brahmanic god to exalt Buddhism. Like a devout
Buddhist, he also rebuilt the places containing the
mahadhatu (relics) as well as the monasteries. The
era used in this inscription is Sakarat, which has been
explained as the era of the Saka rajas.*
1. Le Siam Ancien, I, pp. 146-154.
2. Hinduism and Buddhism, III, p. 85.
3. Fournereau—Le Siam Ancien, I, pp. 1SC-1SS.