Page:A History of Hindu Chemistry Vol 2.djvu/28

 111 As for the masses of the people it is doubtful if ever they have remained contented with the mere ethical aspect of a religion. At any rate- we find that immediately after the tidings of the death of liluddha had spread about there was a squabble among his followers for the possession of the master's corporeal relics and in course of time stripas were raised over them, which no less than the three jewels (l€m‘natmya)——the Buddha, the Dharma and the Samgha,-—--and the Bodhi-tree became ob- jects of worship of the devotee. The Chaityas, Vih-rras and other sanctuaries of divers sorts, with which Buddhistic India was dotted over in the first and second centuries after the decease of the great Teacher, afforded asy- lums for a vast multitude of monks, who, freed from all worldly cares, found ample leisure to formulate and draw up a code of spiritual and disciplinary exercises. Although their high ideal was “ to lead s sweet lives of purest chastity” and induce their lay brethren to follow in their footsteps, rituals and ceremonials of ‘ an imposing and