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NOTES
P AGE V ERSE
Note No. (1) 5 1-26 Full story is adapted from Lalit Vistara and not from Nalaka Sutta of Sutta-Nipata as mentioned by Ven. Anand Kausalyayana.
In Nalaka sutta, Asita goes alone to the abode of Suddhodana and makes prophecy. On return, he awakes his nephew Nalaka. In Lalita Vistara, Asita visits Suddhodana with his nephew Naradatta. There are other differences also between the Nalaka Sutta and Lalit Vistara.
Note No. (2) 7 14 Note the rightwise circuit by Asita around the child Siddharth, twice in this chapter.
Asita’s magical powers and mention of Vedas and Mantras has been omited by Dr. Ambedkar.
Asita is mentioned as Kala Deval in Pali Nidan Katha. Asita also means A-Shveta- not white means black.
Note No. (3) 9 1 Chapter in Lalita Vistara ‘Taking to the Temple’ is used here. Temple of Goddess Abhaya is mentioned in Mahavastu. Lalit Vistara 134(117); Mahavastu ii-26. As mentioned by Thomas, Van den Bergh Ven Eyesinga consideres this story as the origin of Baptism (The Life of Buddha, p. 46 fn. ).