The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t22: Pippalavana.
The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c6.s3.t22
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Pippalavana.
c6.s3.t22.1
From the Anoma river both of the Chinese pilgrims proceeded to visit the stupa that was erected at *Pippalawano* over the charcoal ashes of the funeral pile of Buddha. The Moriyas of this city, having applied too late for a share of the relics of the body, were obliged to be content with the ashes. Fa-Hian places the stupa at 4 *yojanas*, or 28 miles, to the east of the Anoma; but Hwen Thsang makes the distance 180 to 190 *li*, or from 30 to 32 miles, and the bearing south-east. Fa-Hian does not mention the name of the town, but in the Burmese* and Ceylonese chroniclest it is called *Pippali-wano*, or the "Pippal-forest;" and in the Tibetan *Dulva*‡ it is called the town of the *Nyagrodha*, or Banian-trees. Hwen Thsang also speaks of the "forest of *Nyagrodha*-trees" as the site of the "charcoal stupa," and as he actually visited the place, we must accept his testimony in preference to that of the distant chroniclers of Ceylon. No place of this name is now known; but in the south-east direction indicated by Hwen Thsang, there is a large forest which completely surrounds the ruins of an ancient city called *Sahankat*. This place is described at length by Buchanan,§ who found several statues of Buddha amongst the ruins. It was therefore certainly in existence during the flourishing period of Buddhism. It is 20 miles distant from the Chandaoli Ghat, on the Aumi, measured in a direct line on the map; but by the road it is not less than 25 miles, owing to the numerous streams that intersect the route. The position therefore corresponds as nearly as possible with that assigned to the Charcoal Tower by Hwen Thsang, but I have no confirmatory evidence to offer, unless the name of the village of Srinagar Kolua may be connected with *Koïl*, or charcoal, which is not very probable. I may add, however, that the bearing of *Kasia* from Sahankat corresponds with the north-east direction of Kusinagara from the Charcoal Stupa which is recorded by Hwen Thsang.
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∗ Bigandet, ‘Legend of the Burmese Buddha,’ p. 212.
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† Turnour, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, vii. 1013.
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‡ ‘Asiatic Researches,’ Bengal, xx.
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§ ‘Eastern India,’ ii. 370. See Map No. XI. for its position.
Linked texts (1)
- Vinayapiṭaka — Pāli