The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s1.t11.47

c5.s1.t11.47

To the west of the *stupa* there was an old monastery, also built by Kanishka, which had become celebrated amongst the Buddhists through the fame of *Arya-Párswika*, *Manorhita*, and *Vasu-bandhu*, three of the great leaders and teachers of Buddhism about the beginning of the Christian era. The towers and pavilions of the monastery were two stories in height, but the building was already much ruined at the time of Hwen Thsang’s visit. It was, however, inhabited by a small number of monks, who professed the “Lesser Vehicle” or exoteric doctrines of Buddhism. It was still flourishing as a place of Buddhist education in the ninth or tenth century† when Vira Deva of Magadha was sent to the “great Vihâra of Kanishka where the best of teachers were to be found, and which was famous for the quietism of its frequenters.” I believe that this great monastery was still existing in the times of *Baber* and *Akbar* under the name of *Gor-Katri*, or the Baniya’s house.