On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c22.s8: Ānandapura
On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c22.s8
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Ānandapura
v2.c22.s8.1
The pilgrim's narrative goes on to relate that "from this" (that is, the capital of Valabhi) he went north-west above 700 *li* to *A-nan-t'o-pu-lo* (Ānandapura). This country was above 2000 *li*, and its capital above 20 *li* in circuit, and it was rich and flourishing. It was a dependency of Mālava, and like that country in products, climate, written language, and institutions. In it there were more than ten Monasteries with nearly 1000 Brethren belonging to the Hīnayānist Sammatiya school.
v2.c22.s8.2
It is not certain that Yuan-chuang actually visited this district, but there is nothing in the text or in the Life to indicate that he is describing merely from report. Cunningham proposes to identify the country with "the triangular tract lying between the mouth of the Banās river on the west and the Sābarmati river on the east".¹ The city of Ānandupura is probably the *Huan-hsi-ch'êng*, or "city of joy", mentioned as the capital of Hai-t'ien (海天) or "Sāgaradeva", one of the mythical royal ancestors of the Buddha.²
v2.c22.s8.3
¹ A. G. I. p. 494.
v2.c22.s8.4
² Sar. Vin. P'o-sêng-shi, *ch*. I.