This manuscript describes the establishment of the Buddha’s relics at Chaing San. Once upon a time the Buddha went to a river of Chaing San and saw three mountains in the West. He stood on the mountain named “Din Dang” and said “in the future, Buddhism will be prosperous in this place. When I die you must bring my left side of the scapular bone here.”
After the Buddha died, a senior monk Kassapa and the king of Chaing San brought the relic of the Buddha and enshrined the relics in the place and marked the place with a flag. People called this place “Doi Tung.” The king of the city and/or the villagers regularly went to the place to make offerings to the relic of the Buddha.
Colophon:
ปถมมุลลสัทธาตนเปนเจ้ามหาไช แลนายสา ได้พร้อมใจยกันได้ส้างธัมม์ทำนานพระธาตุดอยทุง เมืองเชียงแสน ฯ สักราศ 1250 ตัวปลีเปิกไจย เมง 5 ไว้ยคล้ำชูสาสนา พระโคตมะเจ้าตราบเบงพันวัสสาเปนขระนาด ด้วยเตชะอันข้าได้ส้างนี้ ขอหื้อเปนสุวัณณโสปาณแท้ยาคลา ฯ อรหนฺตามคฺคญาณํ ทินฺนํ นิพฺพานปจฺจโย โหนฺตุ เม นิจฺจํ ฯ
The palm-leaf manuscript entitled the Chronicle of Dòi Thung Buddha Relics in Chiang Saen was sponsored by Cao Mahachai and Mrs. Sa to ensure the continuation of the five-thousand-year [era] of the Teachings of Buddha. The copying [of this manuscript] was completed in CS 1250.
Aahantāmaggañāṇaṃ dinnaṃ nibbānapaccayo hotu me niccaṃ
[May the merit derived from copying this palm-leaf manuscript support me to gain Arahatship and Nibbāna]
Remark: The year corresponds to 1888 CE.
Other notes:
(Left side of the first folio) “Chronicle of Dòi Thung Buddha Relics in Chiang Saen”.