Epigraphia Indica Vol 17

SR No.: 032571
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: F W Thomas, H Krishna Sastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1923
Total Pages: 426
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XVII.
That close relationship must have existed between Coromandel and the Far East dnring the earlier centuries of the Christian era is pretty certain. The part played by Tamaralipti or Tāmlak as an important port in those days for the sea-borne trade between India and the Archipelago will similarly associate Bengal with the Far East. These Sailendras were staunch Buddhists to whom all the magnificent Baddhist buildings which we find in Central Java, like the one which probably contained the Tari image mentioned in the Chandi-Kalāsen inscriptions spoken of above, owe their origin. Now, the question is whether they were emigrants from India or were indigenous people of Java-Sumatra, who embraced Buddhism in preference to Hinduism. The Yopa inscriptions of King Molavaraman from Koetei or East Borneo or other early epigraphical records, which have been brought to light from Champa, Cambodia or Indo-China by eminent French or Datoh savants, would show that India has had a considerable share in the colonization of the Far East. The Yüpa inscriptions, as Dr. Vogel has already pointed out in his very learned brochure, inform us that the erection of the sacrificial posts on which they are engraved was due to the twice-born priests or Brahmans, who had carried their ancient civilization and religion to Borneo, as well as, to Java and Sumatra and that on these priests King Malavarmman conferred rich grants of gold and land; a facť showing that as early as about 400 A. D. high caste Brahmans or Vipras migrated to the Far East and settled there. Fa-Hian found Brahmans settled in Ye-poti (Java or perhaps Sumatra). Sumatran civilization and onltare seem to be of Hindu origin. Samatra was probably the first of all the Archipelago to receive emigrants from India. The names like Coliya, Pandiya, Mēliyale, by which some of the tribes that have settled in Wert Sumatra are known, and the fact that emigrants from India are designated by the term Keling or Kling, which is clearly derived from Kalinga, would show that Southern India, including the Telugu country, had ample share in the colonization of the island or the Far East, as Dr. Vogel has already stated in his paper. The matrimonial alliance mentioned in onr Nalanda charter, which the father of Balaputradēva had with a mighty king of the Lunar race, would, perhaps, lead us to trace the origin of the Sailendras of Java-Sumatra to India. If & conjecture can be hazarded, these Sailēndras were emigrants from Kalinga or say Southern India. I am not a ware if the term Sailendra was over applied to any of the dynasties which ruled iu the south or any other part of India. It will be going too far to convect it with the Snilavama or the Bailodbhavas or other dynasties like the Silābāra having somewhat similar appellations. It may be pointed out, however, that the name of Malaiyaman, which is an exact Tamil rendering of the Sanskrit word Sailendra, meaning the lord of mountain or mountains, is to be met with in some of the inscriptions discovered in the South Arcot and Salem districts of the Madras Presidency where it is applied to some chieftains, who flourished about the 10th century A. D. Tamil literature, however, knows of the Malaimāns, who might be attributed to the 7th and 8th centuries A. D. These chieftains were called Miladudaiyar or the rulers of Miladu, a contracted form of Malaiya-nadu or hill-country, and they claimed
1 The Yipa inecriptions of Kiny Yilatarman from Koetei (Kast Borneo), p. 202.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. XXVI, p. 74. It inny be incidentally pointed out that the statement made bera in the Encyclopedia to the effect that Sumatra was called the first Java was caused by wrong realing, as I learn from Prof. Krom through Dr. J. Pb. Vogel, and requires correctiou.
The Fipa inscriptions, etc., pp. 195-6.
• The Late Mr. Venkayya (4.8. Ry 1911-19, p. 178) was inclined to connect them with some part of Orissa apparently on account of the similarity of Daines like Sailayanis and Sailendravamia, pp. 42 ff. For Ssilavamba, me Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, p. 288 and J. B. A. 8., Vol. LXXIII (1904, p. 2 282 f.)
Rp. Ind., Vol. VI, p. 42. .Ibid, Vol. XI, p. 283.