On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c7.s9.2

v1.c7.s9.2

Outside the capital on the south-west side was the *Na-fo* (Nava)-Sangharama or New Monastery built by a former king of the country. This was the only Buddhist establishment north of the Hindu-Kush in which there was a constant succession of Masters who were commentators on the canon. The image of the Buddha in this monastery was artistically made of (according to one reading, studded with) noted precious substances, and its halls were adorned with costly rarities, hence it was plundered for gain by the chiefs of the various states. In the monastery was an image of Vaisravana deva which had bona fide miracles and in mysterious ways protected the establishment. The pilgrim tells how not long before the time of his visit this deva had frustrated an armed attempt of the Turkish *She-hu* or governor name *Ssi*, the son of a governor, to invade and plunder the monastery.