Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.99

v2.c13.99

The Buddhist literature also refers to Malaya country. The famous Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra is said to have been delivered by the Buddha in the city of Laṅkā on the summit of the Malaya mountain on the border of the sea. The Buddhist reference to Malaya has been regarded by some as purely imaginary but the existence of a Malaya mountain in Ceylon is proved by Ptolemy and Mahāvaṃsa. That of a Malaya country and a Malaya mountain in the south of India also rests on definite grounds. The great Buddhist Vajrabodhi who came to China in A. D. 719 is described as a native of the Malaya country adjoining mount Potalaka, his father being preceptor of the king of Kāñcī. Hiuen Tsang places the country of Malakūta, 3000 li south of Kāñcī, and refers to its mountains Malaya and Potalaka. Alberuni also places Malaya 40 farsakhs (about 160 miles) south of Kāñcī. Thus we have both a Malaya country and a Malaya mountain in the extreme south of the Indian Peninsula.¹ There is no doubt that this name is preserved in modern Malabar which the Arab Geographers call either Malaya-bar or simply Malay.¹