The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s6: 6. Dráviḍa.
The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s6
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6. Dráviḍa.
c8.s6.1
In the seventh century the province of Ta-lo-pi-cha, or Dráviḍa, was 6000 li, or 1000 miles, in circuit, and its capital, named Kien-chi-pu-lo, or Kánchipura, was 30 li, or 5 miles, in circuit.* Kánchipura is the true Sanskrit name of Conjeveram, on the Palâr river, a large straggling town of great antiquity. As Dráviḍa was bounded by Konkana and Dhanakaḳaṭa on the north, and by Malakuta on the south, while no district is mentioned to the west, it seems certain that it must have extended right across the peninsula, from sea to sea. Its northern boundary may therefore be approximately defined as running from Kundapur, on the western coast, viâ Kadur and Tripati, to the Pulikat Lake, and its southern boundary from Calicut to the mouth of the Kâveri. As the circuit of these limits is very nearly 1000 miles, the boundaries suggested may be accepted as very nearly correct.
c8.s6.2
During the pilgrim’s stay at Kánchipura, about 300 Buddhist monks arrived from Ceylon, which they had quitted on account of political disturbances, consequent on the death of the king. By my reckoning, Hwen Thsang must have arrived in Kánchipura, about the 30th of July, A.D. 639, and, according to Turnour’s list of the kings of Ceylon, Raja Buna Mugalân was put to death in A.D. 639. From the information furnished by these monks, the pilgrim drew up his account of Seng.kia.lo, or Ceylon, which he was prevented from visiting by the disturbed state of the country.
c8.s6.3
∗ Julien’s ‘Hiouen Thsang,’ iii. 118. See Map No. I.