Sramanas (Singhalese srama, 'performance of as- ceticism), a name given to the priests of Buddha, who are monks as to their mode of living, but priests as to the world without. Their vows are in no case irrevo- cable. They seek their food by carrying the alms-bowl from door to door, and their chief employment is teach- ing the novices, or writing books upon the leaf of the talipot. — Gardner, Faiths of the World, s. v. See Hardy, Eastern Moiiuchism.
Sravaka or Sra'waka (Sanscrit sru, to hem-), a name of the disciples of Buddha, who, through the hear- ing of his doctrine and by practicing the four great Buddhistic truths, attain to the qualification of an Ar- hat, or Buddhist saint. From among these disciples eighty are called the Mahsararakus, or the great Sra- vakas. The Sravakas are entitled to the predicate Ayushmat, or " one possessed of long life." This name is also given among the Nepaulese to one of the four orders into which their priests are divided. — Chambers^s Encyclop. s. v. See Hardy, Eastern Monachism,
Sreiansa, in Hindu mythology, is the lord of the rhinoceros, which is his symbol ; one of the twenty- four Buddhas recognised by the .Jains. He was a son of Vishnu and Vishna (the name given by them to Lakshmi, Vishnu's consort).
Sri-pada, the name given to the worship of the impressidus of Gotama's foot. The legend is that on the third visit of the sage to Ceylon, in the eighth year after he obtained the Buddhaship, he left an impres- sion of his foot on the summit of the nKumtain usually known by the name of Adam's Peak, 7420 feet above the sea, intended as a seal to declare that Lanka would be the inheritance of Buddha. In the same journej' he left other impressions of a similar kind in different parts of India. The footstep is said to be a superficial hollow five feet three and three-fourths inches long and between two feet seven inches and two feet five inches wide. The summit of the peak is aimnally visited by great numbers. See Hardy, Eastern Monachism, p. '221.
Srudasanen, Sruddaggirti, and Srudavar- men, in Hindu mythology, are three of the five sons born of Drovadei, the wife of the five Pandus, to her husbands. The others were named Pridyvandaf/en and Sandaniyen.
Ssafarino Kagami, in .Japanese mythology, is the mirror of knowledge which is placed before the prince of hell, and which serves to reveal to him in their true character all the sins of the persons who come into his presence.
Ssangjai is the name of Buddha in Thiljct, where the highest veneration is accorded him as the rider of the present world-period. Three other Buddhas have preceded Ssangjai, and nine hundred and ninety-six are yet to follow. See Buddhism; Lamaism , Thibkt.
Ssodadani, in Hindu mythology, is a king of Ma- gadha, the miildk'. kingdom of India and the i)rincipnl scene of all its myths. Ssodadani was married to Maha-maya, the virgin wife who was chosen by Sak- yamuni, that, after he had entered her womb as a five- colored ray, he might be born of her, and who accord- ingly gave birth to the Buddha in the grove of Lomba through her right armpit. See Blddiia.
Stabat Mater, or, better, the Mater Dolorosa, to distinguish it from the Mater Speciosa (q. v.), is the cel- ebrated Passion hymn of .Jacopone de Benedictis. Its [iroper name is Planctus Beatie Viryinis, or iSequentia de Septeni Doloribns Ji. Viryinis, or De Compassione Beatce Viryinis. This hymn has been regarded by universal con- sent as the most pathetic and touching of Latin Church lyrics, and inferior onlj' to the Dies h-w (q. v.), which stands alone in its glory and overpowering effect. It was spread all over Europe b}' the Flagellants, or Brethren of the Cross (Crucifratres), and Cross-bearers (Cruciferi), "penitents who, in the 13th, 14th, and loth centuries, went about in procession day and night, travelling ev- erywhere, naked to the waist, with heads covered with a white cap or hood (whence they received, likewise, the appellation of De(dbatores), singing penitential psalms, and whipping themselves until the blood flowed. By their means it was that the knowledge of this hymn was first carried to almost every country in Europe." Once sung in penitential ])rocessions, it graihially found a place in almost every breviary or missal. For " it t)reathes the spirit of profound repentance and glowing love, such as can be kindled only by long and intense contemplation of the mysterv of the cross — the most amazing and af- fecting spectacle ever presented to the gaze of heaven and earth. The agony of Mary at the cross, and the sword which then pierceil througli her soul, according to the prophecy of Simon (Luke ii, 35), never found a more perfect expression. It surpasses in effect the Mater-Dolorosas of the greatest painters." The kej^- note of the hymn is contained iu the first two lines, and is suggested liy the brief but pregnant sentence of .John as found in the Latin version, " Stabat juxta crucem mater ejus" (xix, 25), which has given rise to some of the most magnificent works of art.
I. Text. — In its received form it reads as follows :
Stabat mater d<ilorosa Juxtii ciuceni laci ymosa,
Dum* peudebatFilius; Cujus aniniiun gementem, Contristatanit :\c dolentem,