The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c6.55

v1.c6.55

“The pilgrim, thereupon, proceeded to the south-west, and arrived at the kingdom of *Ou-tchā* (Ouḍa). There are a hundred monasteries containing nearly ten thousand monks, who study the law of the *Great Translation*. There are also many heretics who frequent the temples of the *devas*, (*devālayas*). The followers of error and of the truth live pell-mell. There may be seen [**8**] a dozen *stūpas* built by the king Wou-yeou (Aśoka) on which are oftentimes refulgent the most extraordinary prodigies”.³⁹ Hiouen Thsang's biographer, Hoei-li; says little of Orissa beyond Hiouen Thsang's having there met a doctor of the *Little Translation*, named Pradjñāgupta, who had written a treatise in 700 verses on the doctrine he followed, and of his having refuted him in a treatise of 1000 verses which he wrote for the purpose. But Hiouen Thsang himself, in his journal, the *Sıyuki* (lib. x. p. 10), supplies the following description of the province : “Ou-tchā (Ouḍa, Oḍra, Orissa, East India.) This kingdom is seven thousand *lis* (1150 miles ) circuit ; the circumference of the capital is 20 *lis* = 3½ miles. The soil is rich and fertile, and the cereals are produced in abundance. In general, the fruits are much larger than those of other kingdoms ; it is very difficult to enumerate all the rare plants and the remarkable flowers that one sees there. One sees at all times a sweet colour. The people are in their manner ferocious, of tall stature, and of black complexion. Their language is pure and harmonious, and differs altogether from that of central India. They devote themselves to the study of the *Little Translation* with much and indefatigable ardour according to the law of Buddha. There are a hundred monasteries, and one may count nearly ten thousand monks, all of whom study the doctrine of the *Great Translation* (Mahāyāna). There are fifty temples of the gods. The heretics live pell-mell with the orthodox”.⁴⁰