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PILGRIMAGE TO LANKA 67

« May the innumerable merits acquired in donations are source of profit
And we offer them with joy to the gods.
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May these merits be sent to the Nine planets and all living beings,
Including members of our families : grandparents, aunts and uncles. » (Verse 119)

« To our parents and teachers who died,
If they are happy or unhappy, may our merits reach them.
May our merits also support the Most Serene Prince [of Keng Tung],
May our wishes come true in full, as we hope for it. » (Verse 120)

« In the present time, may our Merits bear fruit,
Protect us from dangers, worries and diseases,
Give us long life and allow us to perform deeds.
May robbers and villains not bother us. » (Verse 121)

« In the evening of life, when the end arrives, may our merits lead us to Heaven.
If we are reborn in the Human world,
May we meet the Triple Gem, gain more merits
And get in full the seven kinds of goods. » (Verse 122)

The worship having been made, the monks realized that they were very lucky,
because the palace containing the holy relic would be closed for a long period. They felt
that their own merits had helped them a lot, otherwise they would have made the

pilgrimage for nothing. The measures taken to secure the places also impressed them,
as well as the visit. In the following stanzas, the narrator gives us his feelings on this
memorable day :
After paying homage to the shrine of the Buddha, we took the way back.

We wanted to stay further, but the closing day was planned in advance.
During the waning moon of the month, the gates were solidly closed
And would only be opened once every three years. (Verse 124)

There were seven padlocks at the gate.
The palace was strong, built with stone.
The golden chest, set with gems, contained the holy tooth.
Seven tunnels had been dug and each had a locked door. (Verse 125)
Guards watched over the security to prevent any hostile act.

The chest containing the relic was guarded in a stone tunnel.

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According to local belief, the Clerk of the God of death, or Sirigutta Amætya, note the human’s
good deeds on a golden sheet and the bad deeds on a dog’s skin.
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The nine planets are : The Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturne, Uranus and
Neptune.