On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c20.105.2

v2.c20.105.2

When the king went to visit these latter they had disappeared in a mysterious manner, and His Majesty was so affected by the incident that he abdicated and joined the Buddhist fraternity [in the monastery he had built]. The rule of seniority placed him below all the Brethren, and he did not like this change in his social position. He put his case before the ordained Brethren who thereupon made a rule that members of the establishment who were not fully ordained should rank according to age, a rule which is found in this monastery and in no other. To the west of this monastery Bālāditya's son and successor Vajra built another; and to the north of this a king of Mid India afterwards erected a large monastery. Then round all there was built a lofty enclosing wall with one gate. In this establishment, the work of a succession of sovereigns, the sculpture was perfect and really beautiful. "In the monastery built by Śakrāditya", the pilgrim continues, "there is now an image of Buddha and every day 40 Brethren are sent to take their food there to requite the bounty of the founder". In the establishment were some thousands of Brethren, all men of great ability and learning, several hundreds being highly esteemed and famous; the Brethren were very strict in observing the precepts and regulations of their Order; they were looked up to as models by all India; learning and discussing they found the day too short;