________________
640-41
A.D. 640-41
641
MAITRAKA-GURJARA PERIOD
171
population is dense, and the various establishments (families) are rich. The country is dependent on Valabhi. The soil is impregnated with salt; flowers and fruit are rare. Although the climate is equable yet there is no cessation of tempests. The manners of the people are careless and indifferent; their disposition light and frivolous. They do not love learning and are attached both to the true faith and also to heretical doctrine. There are some fifty samgharamas in this kingdom, with about 3000 priests; they mostly belong to the Sthavira school of the Great Vehicle (Mahayana). There are a hundred or so Deva temples, occupied by sectaries of all sorts.
As this country is on the western sea-route, the men all derive their livelihood from the sea and engage in commerce and exchange of commodities.
Not far from the city is a mountain called Yuh-chen-to (Ujjayanta-Girnar), on the top of which is a samghäräma. The cells and galleries have mostly been excavated from the mountain-side. The mountain is covered with thick jungle and forest trees, whilst streams flow round its limits. Here saints and sages roam and rest, and Rişis endued with spiritual faculties congregate here and stay. Ibid, pp. 268-269).
Kiu-che-lo-(GURJJARA):-Going north from the country of Valabhi 1800 li or so, we come to this kingdom. This country is 5000 li or so in circuit; the capital, which is called Pi-lo-mo-lo ( Bhillamäla or Bhinnamala), is 30 li or so round. The produce of the soil and the manners of the people resemble those of Saurasştra. The population is dense; the establishments are rich and well supplied with materials (wealth). They mostly are unbelievers; a few are attached to the law of Buddha. There is one samgharama, with about a hundred priests; they are attached to the teaching of the Little Vehicle (Hinayana) and the school of the Sarvästivadins. There are several tens of Deva temples, in which sectaries of various denominations dwell. The king is of the Ksattriya caste. He is just twenty years old; he is distinguished for wisdom, and he is courageous. He is a deep believer in the law of Buddha; and highly honours men of distinguished ability.-(Ibid., pp. 269-270).
When Hiuen Tsang visited Valabhipura in 640 A.D., it was a city of power, wealth and culture, and contained a large library of sacred books. The fame of its University had reached China; for Sthiramati, a Buddhist monk, in the beginning of the sixth century, and another Gupamati, at the end of the same century, were invited to China. Saivism and Buddhism were the favoured religions, and the temples of these faiths were richly endowed.
Born in 600 A.D. of an orthodox Confucien family, Hiuen Tsang became a Buddhist Monk at the age of 20. Not being content with the existing translations of Buddhist books in Chinese, he decided to visit India. He started in 629 A.D. by the northern route in Central Asia. He reached Kapisā (Kafiristan)
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