The religious festivals and holidays of Lama ism are numerous. The three great festivals are New Year's, the Flower Feast, and the Water Feast, to which might be added a lantern festival and the chase of the scapegoat of bad luck. The Log-gSsar, or the festival of the new year, in February, marks the commencement of the season of spring, or the victory of light and warmth over darkness and cold. The Lamaists, like the Buddhists, celebrate it in commemora tion of the victory obtained by Buddha over six heretic teachers. The second festival. probably the oldest festival of the Buddhistic Church, is held in commemoration of the conception or in carnation of the Buddha, and marks the com mencement of summer. The third is the Water Feast, in August and September, marking the commencement of autumn.
The two principal sacraments of Lamaism are baptism and confirmation. The former is ad ministered on the third or tenth (lay after birth; the latter, generally when the child can walk and speak. The marriage ceremony is to the Tibetans not a religious, but a civil act, though it is from the Lamas that the bridegroom and bride learn the auspicious day; nor do they fail to complete the act with prayers and rites, which must be responded to with handsome presents. A similar observation applies to the funeral ceremonies of the Tibetans. The method of disposing of the dead is by burning, by interment, and likewise by exposing the body in the open air, to be de mired by birds and beasts of prey. \\lien a man dies, a Lama must be present to superintend the proper separation of the body and the soul, and to direct the spirit on its journey to the We-stern paradise; also to east the horoscope and to enable the departed to be reborn in a happy existence or to enter the regions beyond rebirth, for Lamaism, like Buddhism, has the doctrine of metempsychosis and reincarnation. The most lucrative part of the Lama's business, however, is I he masses which he has to perform until the soil is released from Tama. the infernal judge, and ready to enter upon its new existence.
One of the most interesting features of Lama ism is the organization of its hierarchy. Its summit is occupied by two Lama popes, the one called Dalai-lAma, i.e. ocean - priest, or priest vast as the ocean—lie resides at Po tala, a bill near Lhasa—the other hearing the titles of Bogodo-Lama, etc., and officially called Pan-ch'en rin pa literally 'I he right reverend great teacher-jewel' (i.e. precious teacher) ; he resides in the convent at Mira Shiss Lhun po. near gShiss Ka rTse. In
theory, both popes have the same rank and au thority. in spiritual as well as in temporal mat ters; but, as the Dalai-Lama possesses a much larger territory than the other, he is in reality much more powerful. Next in rank are the Tautuktus. The third degree is that of the Khubilghans or Hobilghans—which .Mongol name is more frequently given to them than the Tibetan title, bjang ch'ub—a translation of the Sanskrit bialhi,s.attea. Their number is very great. These three degrees represent the clergy, which claims to be the incarnation of the Buddhistic saints. The theory of the reincarnate succession of the Lamas is strongly marked. The Dalai Lama and the Pan-eh'e? were in their former lives the two chief disciples of the great Lamaist reformer who was an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Amitablm, or, as some will have it, of Manjusri and Vajra pani, and \vim is reputed to have founded. in 1355 or 1357 of the Christian Era, the present system of the Lama hierarchy. The Khutuktus were, in their prior existe»ces, other Buddhistic saints of very great renown; and the Kilobit ghans are those reborn hosts of saintly pat rots whom the temples and convents of Lamaism possess in boundless numbers. On the death of a Grand Lama, his soul is supposed to take up its abode in sonic infant born shortly after the pontiff's decease. Up to the end of the eighteenth century the clergy of these various classes deter mined the choice of the children into whose bodies the souls of their departed members had migrated. At present, however, it seems that the Emperor of China exercises a paramount in fluence on the discovery of those transmigra tions. In order to ascertain the rebirth of a departed Lama, various means are relied upon. :oinetimes the deceased had, before his death, confidentially mentioned to his friends where and in which family he would reappear, or his will contained intimations to this effect. In most instances, however, the sacred books and the official astrologers are consulted on the sub jeet; and if the Dalai-Lama dies, it is the duty of the Pan-eh'en to interpret the traditions and oracles; whereas, if the latter dies, the Dalai Lama renders him the same service. The proc lamation of so great an event, however, as the metempsychosis of a Dalai-Lama or Pan-ch'en is preceded by a close examination of the child who claims to be in possession of the soul of either of these personages.