Ancient Indian Colonization in South-East Asia c8.51

c8.51

It may be safely concluded from the According to tradition current among the people of Pegu in Lower Burma, Indian colonists from the lower courses of the rivers Krishna and Godavari had at a remote time crossed the sea and formed settlements in the delta of the Irawadi and on the adjoining coast. A semi-mythical legend traces the foundation of the kingdom of Thaton or Sudhammavatī to two sons of king Tissa. A list of fifty-nine kings who reigned there is given in the chronicles. It is further recorded that two sons of the king of Thaton, named Thamala ( Śyāmala ) and Vimala, being excluded from succession to the throne, founded a new city called Bogo or Pegu, known also as Haṁsāvatī. It is incidentally mentioned that Hindu strangers came in ships and invaded Pegu but were repulsed. There were altogether 17 kings in this dynasty, the last of whom, Tissa, ascended the throne in 761 A.D.