History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c7.s8: 7.—India in 630 A. D. as Described by Hiuen Tsang.

History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c7.s8

Language: English

7.—India in 630 A. D. as Described by Hiuen Tsang.

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| 5. Chinabhukti (Patti) going eastward | ... | ... |
| 6. Jālandhara (Jullunder), north-east | ... | King not mentioned. A former king was in sole control of matters relating to Buddhism. | Former king Mihirakula. Orthodoxy and heterodoxy had their adherents. There were no monasteries. There were 9 Deva temples. |
| 7. Kuluta (Kulu) among mountains going north-east. | ... | King not named | 50 Monasteries and 3 Deva temples with professed non-Buddhists of the Pāśupata sect. |
| 8. Śatadru going south the Sutlej on west | ... | ... | 20 Monasteries and 15 Deva temples. |
| 9. Pāriyātra (Bairat) going south-west | ... | King of the Vaiśya caste 8 Monasteries in ruin; 10 Deva temples with name not mentioned. 1000 non-Buddhists. | People devout Buddhists. |
| 10. Mathura eastward | ... | King not mentioned | People were moral and very intellectual; 20 monasteries with 2000 Brethren and 5 Deva temples. |
| 11. Sthāneśvara (Thanesar) going north-east | ... | ... | Non-Buddhists were very numerous. 3 monasteries and about 100 Deva temples. There is here an indirect mention of the Bhagavadgīta. There were 100 Deva temples and the non-Buddhists were numerous. |
| 12. Srughna north-east, the Jumha flowing through the middle. Snowy mountains on the north, the Ganges on the east. | ... | Of Śūdra caste, did not believe in Buddhism and worshipped the Devas. | The people were equally divided between Buddhism and other religions. |
| 13. Matipura (Western Rohilkhand) crossing to the eastern bank of the Ganges. | ... | Not mentioned | 5 monasteries with very few brethren, 10 Deva temples. |
| 14. Brahmapura (Garhwal and Kumaon) going north. | ... | ... | ... |
| 15. Govishāṇa (Kashipur, Rampur) South-east of Matipura. | ... | ... | People honest and sincere and applied themselves to learning. Most of them non-Buddhists; sought the joys of this life. |
| 16. Ahichhatra (Eastern Rohilkhand & Pilibhit) going south east. | ... | ... | 10 Monasteries; 9 Deva temples; 300 worshippers of the Pāśupata sect. |
| 17. Pilośana (after crossing the Ganges south) capital near Atranji. | ... | ... | The people were mainly non-Buddhists. |

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| Name of Country. | King. | People. |
| 18. Sārkāshya or Kapitha, South-east | ... | 4 Monasteries, 10 Deva temples, non-Buddhists were Śaivites. |
| 19. Kanauj South-east. Capital to the east of the Ganges. | Harsha of the Vaiśya caste. | The people were equally divided between orthodoxy and heterodoxy. There were temples to the sun god and Maheśvara in the city. The people had a refined appearance and dressed in silk attire. They were given to learning and the arts. |
| 20. Ayute (Ayodhya) going south-east and crossing the Ganges (another river), to the south. | King not named | 100 monasteries with 3000 brethren and 10 temples. There were few non-Buddhists. Vasubandhu and Asanga preached in this city. |
| 21. Ayomukha (?) East and crossing the Ganges (?) to the north. | Not mentioned | ... People equally divided and there were 5 monasteries and 10 Deva temples. |
| 22. Prayāga (Allahabad) going south-east and crossing the Ganges on the south and north of the Jumna, | ” | ... Majority of the inhabitants non-Buddhists. In front of a Deva temple a big Banyan tree from which people threw themselves down to die. At the confluence also people bathed and then starved themselves to death. |
| 23. Kośambi going south-west through a forest | Not mentioned, Udayana ancient king made a sandal-wood image of Buddha which was in the palace temple. | Non-Buddhists were very numerous. |
| 24. Viśoka (?) going north | Not mentioned | ... Non-Buddhists were very numerous. |
| 25. Śravasti (Kosala) going north-east | ... | Dha's time seat of king Prasenajit. |

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| 26. Kapilavastu (deserted kingdom) going south-east. | No king, each city had its own king. | ... | There were two Deva temples and remains of 1000 monasteries. (These three were probably no kingdoms, but places connected with Buddha's life. Kapilavastu was his birth-place and Kuśinagara his death place.) |
| 27. Rāmagrāma (the country devastated) going east through a forest and inhabitants few. | No king | ... | Majority believed in other systems; only a few believed in Buddhism. The people were gentle and courteous, majority being devotees of Śiva. There was a metal image of the Deva (Śiva) nearly 100 feet high which was life-like in its awe-inspiring majesty. |
| 28. Kuśinagara (all in ruin, few inhabitants) north-east. | " " | ... | 10 monasteries 20 Deva temples. On the south of the Ganges was a Mahāśālā where all the inhabitants were Brahmins and there were no Buddhists. On the north of the Ganges was a Nārāyaṇa temple with a most beautiful image. |
| 29. Benares (Ganges on the West) South-west of Kuśinagara. | Not mentioned | ... | The people both orthodox and heterodox. The Digambaras flourished. |
| 30. Chanchu (Yaudheya) going eastward along the Ganges, capital Ghazipur. | King not mentioned | ... | Very few Buddhists, non-Buddhist were numerous. |
| 31. Vaiśāli, crossing the Ganges going north-east. | Not mentioned | ... | |
| 32. Vṛijji, going north-east | " | | |
| 33. Nepal (in the snowy mountains, direction not mentioned). | Kings were Kṣatriya Licchavis. They were eminent scholars and believed in Buddha. Anśuvarman a recent king had written a treatise on Etymology. | | The people were rude and deceitful and ugly in appearance but skilled mechanics. They believed both the false and the true religions. Monasteries and Deva temples touching each other. |

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| Name of Country. | King. | People |
| 34. Magadha, from Vaiśālī south, after crossing the Ganges. Old Capital Rājagṛiha, new Pāṭaliputra. The country produced fragrant rice called "rice for grandees". Nālandā monasteries (modern village Buragaon) to the east of Rājagṛiha. | Not mentioned; but in the Life we are told that Pūrṇa Varma king of Magadha who was just dead patronised Jayasena a renowned Buddhist scholar of Kshatriya caste. | The people were honest, esteemed learning and reverenced Buddhism. The adherents of various sects were numerous. Gayā was to the south and had few inhabitants. But there were 1000 Brahmin families descendants of the original Ṛishi Gayā and these were not subject to the king and were treated by all with reverence. Ancient Buddhist University. Bālāditya and others built them and endowed them with 100 villages. |
| 35. Hiraṇyaparvata (Monghyr) going east. Capital close to the Ganges on its north side. | No king, a neighbouring king having recently deposed the ruler. | 10 Monasteries and 20 Deva temples. Near the Ganges and besides the capital was a mountain on which lived an endless succession of Ṛishis whose teachings were still preserved in the Deva temples. Monasteries in ruin. On the south side of the Ganges in an islet, there was a Deva temple beautiful and enchanting. |
| 36. Champā (Bhagalpur) East, Capital situated on the south of the Ganges. Many herds of elephants in the jungle to the south. | Not mentiond | ... 6 Monasteries, 10 Deva temples. |
| 37. Kajugal (Rajamahal) East; south of the Ganges. | No king; subject to another state. | ... 20 Monasteries, 10 Deva temples. There were Digambara Nigranthas also. |
| 38. Puṇḍra Vardhana (Rangapur) East after crossing the Ganges. | Not mentioned | The people were small in stature; spoke a different language; did not believe in Buddhism. There were hundreds of Deva temples. Some Buddhists prayed in secrecy. |
| 39. Kāmarūpa (Assam) East after crossing a large river. | A Brahmin, descendant of Nārāyaṇa Deva called BhāskaraVarma the other name being Kumāra | |

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| 40. Samatata. Capital Jessore | Not mentioned | ... 30 Buddhistic Monasteries and 100 Deva temples. Digambar Nigranthas were very numerous. |
| 41. Tāmralipti (Midnapur) West; Capital on an inlet of the sea, land and water communication by a bay. | Not mentioned | ... 10 Buddhistic monasteries, 50 Deva temples. |
| 42. Karṇasuvarṇa (Murshidabad) North-west | Sāsānka (see Gupta inscriptions p. 283.) | ... People fond of learning. 10 monasteries 50 temples. Numerous followers of various religions |
| 43. Udra or Odra (Orissa) going S.W. On the east the occean, in the S. E. a sea-port for going to Ceylon. | Not mentioned | ... People reverence the law. In speech and manners different from Mid. India, Fruit larger than elsewhere. 100 Monasteries, 50 temples Myriads of Buddhists. |
| 44. Konguto going south-west, over hills and the sea. | Not mentioned | ... People tall, black and valorous. Written language the same, ways of speaking different. They were not Buddhists; 100 temples. Of Tirthikas there were 10,000. |
| 45. Kalinga. South-west | Not mentioned | ... People headstrong but fair and clear of speech; they differed somewhat from Mid-India in talk and manners. Few Buddhists. Majority of other religions. 100 Deva temples, majority being Nigranthas. |
| 46. Kosala, land of Nāgārjuna, North-west; country surrounded by mountains. | Kshatriya Buddhist | ... People tall and black; of both religions; about 100 monateries. |
| 47. Andhra. South from Kosala | Not mentioned | ... People violent. Their speech differs from Mid-India; 100 monasteries. Followers of different religions. |
| 48. Dhanakata (Amaravati on the Krishna) South. | " | ... People black; monasteries deserted, 100 temples, followers of various sects numerous. |
| 49. Chola. South-west | " | ... People of a fierce and profligate character. They were the followers of the Tirthikas. The monasteries were in ruins. Several tens of Deva temples and the Digambaras were numerous. |

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| Name of Country. | King. | People. |
| 50. Dravida. South ; a port led to Sinhala | Not mentioned | The people courageous and honest, esteemed great learning, they differed little from Mid-India in written and spoken language. 100 monasteries, and more than 80 Deva temples. Majority Digambara |
| 51. Malayakūta. South from Kānchi ; depot of pearls ; sea-port to Ceylon. | ... | People indifferent to religion ; black, only good at pride, monasteries few, hundreds of Deva temples ; Digambaras very numerous. On the south on the sea was the Malaya mountain which produced sandal, camphor and other trees. On the east was Potalaka mountain with Pataldhe lake on the top, 100 monasteries. Close to the city was a forest of Tāla trees, its leaves were used for writting |
| 52. Konkan, going north from Dravid | ... | ... |
| 53. Mahārāshtra. North-west. Capital to the east of a great river. | Pulikeshin | People warlike and fond of learning ; both orthodox and heterodox ; to the east of this country was a mountain in which caves were dug out. |
| 54. Bharukachha going west and crossing the Narmada. | Not mentioned | People deceitful and ignorant ; believed in both orthodoxy and hetrodoxy. They support themselves on the sea and salt manufacture. |
| 55. Mālava, going north-west. Capital on the Mahi. | 60 years before, a great king, called Silāditya who had built by his palace a Buddhist Temple ruled. | People learned. Mālava in the South-west and Magadha in North-east were the two countries where learning was prized. There was miscellaneous belief in orthodoxy and heterodoxy. |

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| 56. Atali (Unidentified) Going north-west. | King not mentioned | ... | People traders and rich. The soil was sandy. There were little flowers or fruit. In speech etc., the people were like those of Mālava, but they did not esteem religious merit, and worshipped Devas. (Hiuen Tsiang probably did not visit this country.) |
| 57. Kita (Cutch) going north-west from Mālava | Subject to Mālava | ... | People like those of Mālava. There were however numerous worshippers of Deva temples. |
| 58. Valabhi; going north | ... | Kshatriya by caste a nephew of the former king of Mālava-Śilāditya and a son-in-law of the reigning king of Kanauj-Śilāditya. He was hasty of temper and young but a devout Buddhist. His name was Dhruvabhata Not mentioned. Subject to Mālava. | The country was like Mālava, the people rich and prosperous. There were hundreds of Deva temples, above 100 Buddhistic monasteries. |
| 59. Anandapura, North-west of Valabhi | ... | Not mentioned. Subject to Mālava. | Fertile and like Mālava in products, climate written language and institutions. More than 10 monasteries. |
| 60. Surashtra; going west. Mahi on its west side. | Subject to Mālava | .. | People rich and flourishing. They were rude and believed in both religious. 10 Monasteries and about 100 Deva temples. Near the capital was the Uśanta hill (undoubtedly Girnar near Junagad,) on which congregated supernatural Rishis. Soil blackish. Disturbed by storms. The country on the high way to the sea. The people utilized the sea and were traders by profession. |

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| Name of Country. | King. | People. |
| 61. Gurjara-North from Valabhi, capital Bhinamal | Kshatriya a young man celebrated for wisdom and valour and profound believer in Buddhism. | It had a flourishing population mostly non-Buddhist. 1 Monastery 10 Deva temples. The country was like Surashtra. |
| 62. Ujjayini. South-west from Gurjara, properly identified with Ujjain, because Asoka had made here a jail. | Brahmin, well versed in heterodox doctrine. | People rich and prosperous; very few Buddhists. Monasteries mostly in ruins. Some 10 Deva temples. |
| 63. Chichito. North-east. | Brahmin, a firm believer in Buddhism. | Majority of people not Buddhist. Wheat and pulse were its products. |
| 64. Mahesvarapura going north. Returns from Mahesvarapura to Gosjala (Gurjara) crosses a wild country and going north and crossing the Shintu river comes to | Brahmin, not a believer in Buddhism. | People not Buddhist. Majority belonged to the Pasupatas. |
| 65. Sind. Capital Pisharpulo (?) | ... | Of Sudra caste and believer in Buddha. | People quarrelsome. Thorough believers in Buddhism; several hundreds of Monasteries and 10000 brethren. Above 30 Deva temples. Wheat, dromedaries and mules were the chief products. In the marshes of Shintu lived myriads of families of ferocious disposition, who made taking of life their occupation though they shaved off hair and wore Bhikshu garbs. |

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| 66. Mulasthānapura, going east and crossing the Indus. | Subject to Tekka | ... The people were upright, led moral life but few were Buddhists. There was a temple to the sun, the image of burning gold, ornamented with precious stones. There was a constant succession of female singers in this temple. |
| 67. Pofato North-east upland. | Subject to Tekka | ... About 10 Buddhist monasteries. |
| 68. Pochilo. South-west from Sind. Capital in the west on the sea. | Subject to Sind | ... Above 80 monasteries. In the capital was a large Maheśvara temple the image in which had supernatural powers. Capital Khajísvara or Kacchchheśvara. |
| Udumbara | | |
| 69. Langhala (Makran) going west | Subject to Persia | ... Writing like that of India and speech different. Orthodoxy and heterodoxy both were believed in. Above 100 monasteries and hundreds of Deva temples and very many Pāśupatas. |
| 70. Phiitośihlo (Pitaśila) | Subject to Sind | ... In the capital was a temple of Maheśvara. |
| 71. Afantu (Avanda). North-east | ” | ... People violent but true Buddhists Language differed rom thatof India. 20 monasteries 15 Deva temples. |
| 72. Falana (Varanar or Bannu). North-east | Subjebt to Kapíśa | ... People bold, fierce and believed in both orthodoxy and heterodoxy. Tens of Buddhist monasteries and 5 Deva temples mostly Pāśupata |

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(Taken from Watters' Yuan Chwang Vol. II.)

Linked texts (1)

Bhagavadgītā — Vyāsa, Sanskrit