On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c22.s20.1

v2.c22.s20.1

The narrative in the Records goes on to state that from Pitaśilā Yuan-chuang went north-east for more than 300 *li* to the *A-fan-t'u* (or *A-pan-ch'a*) country. This country was about 2400 *li* and its capital above 20 *li* in circuit. It had no sovereign and was under Sindh. There were above twenty Monasteries with 2000 Brethren of whom the majority belonged to the Sammatiya school; there were also five Deva-Temples of the Pāśupatas. In a bamboo-wood not far to the north-east of the capital were the remains of an old monastery; here the Buddha had given permission to bhikshus to wear shoes. Beside the monastery was an Asoka tope still 100 feet high although the foundations had sunk out of sight. At its side was a Buddhist temple in which was a dark-blue stone standing image of the Buddha which on fast-days emitted supernatural light. Above 800 paces to the south of this was an Asoka tope in a wood; the Buddha once was spending the night here and feeling cold he put on a second suit of the three robes; the next morning relaxed the rule against bhikshus wearing double (or padded) garments. In this wood was a walking place of the Buddha; there were also numerous topes in a series where the Four Past Buddhas had sat. In the topes were hair and nail relics of the Buddha which emitted bright light on fast-days.