Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3Eliot, Charles
Religion
Hinduism and Buddhism, An Historical Sketch, Vol. 3
Eliot, Charles
Asia -- Religion; Buddhism; Hinduism
The name Java is probably the Sanskrit _Yava_ used in the sense of
grain, especially millet. In the Ramayana[371] the monkeys of Hanuman
are bidden to seek for Sîtâ in various places including Yava-dvîpa,
which contains seven kingdoms and produces gold and silver. Others
translate these last words as referring to another or two other
islands known as Gold and Silver Land. It is probable that the poet
did not distinguish clearly between Java and Sumatra. He goes on to
say that beyond Java is the peak called Śiśira. This is possibly
the same as the Yavakoṭi mentioned in 499 A.D. by the Indian
astronomer Aryabhaṭṭa.
Since the Ramayana is a product of gradual growth it is not easy to
assign a definite date to this passage, but it is probably not later
than the first or second century A.D. and an early date is rendered
probable by the fact that the Alexandrian Geographer Ptolemy (_c._ 130
A.D.) mentions[372] _Νῆσος Ἰαβαδίου ἢ Σαβαδίου_ and by various notices
collected from inscriptions and from Chinese historians. The annals of
the Liang Dynasty (502-556 A.D.) in speaking of the countries of the
Southern Ocean say that in the reign of Hsüan Ti (73-49 B.C.) the
Romans and Indians sent envoys to China by that route[373], thus
indicating that the Archipelago was frequented by Hindus. The same
work describes under the name of Lang-ya-hsiu a country which
professed Buddhism and used the Sanskrit language and states that "the
people say that their country was established more than 400 years
ago[374]." Lang-ya-hsiu has been located by some in Java by others in
the Malay Peninsula, but even on the latter supposition this testimony
to Indian influence in the Far East is still important. An inscription
found at Kedah in the Malay Peninsula is believed to be older than 400
A.D.[375] No more definite accounts are forthcoming before the fifth
or sixth century. Fa-Hsien[376] relates how in 418 he returned to
China from India by sea and "arrived at a country called Ya-va-di."
"In this country" he says "heretics and Brahmans flourish but the law
of Buddha hardly deserves mentioning[377]." Three inscriptions found
in west Java in the district of Buitenzorg are referred for
palæographic reasons to about 400 A.D. They are all in Sanskrit and
eulogize a prince named Pûrṇavarman, who appears to have been a
Vishnuite. The name of his capital is deciphered as Narumâ or Tarumâ.
In 435 according to the Liu Sung annals[378] a king of Ja-va-da named
Shih-li-pa-da-do-a-la-pa-mo sent tribute to China. The king's name
probably represents a Sanskrit title beginning with Śrî-Pâda and it is
noticeable that two footprints are carved on the stones which bear
Pûrṇavarman's inscriptions. Also Sanskrit inscriptions found at
Koetei on the east coast of Borneo and considered to be not later than
the fifth century record the piety and gifts to Brahmans of a King
Mûlavarman and mention his father and grandfather[379].
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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