Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang)
by Samuel Beal | 1884 | 224,928 words | ISBN-10: 8120811070
This is the English translation of the travel records of Xuanzang (or, Hiuen Tsiang): a Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India during the seventh century. This book recounts his documents his visit to India and neighboring countries, and reflects the condition of those countries during his time, including temples, culture, traditions and fest...
Chapter 11 - Country of Kiu-che-lo (Gurjara)
Note: Gurjara (the district as well as the language) extended into the southern parts of modern Rājputāna and Mālwā.[1]
This country is 5000 li or so in circuit, the capital, which is called Pi-lo-mo-lo,[2] is 30 li or so round. The produce of the soil and the manners of the people resemble those of Surāṣṭra. 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 saṅghārāma, with about a hundred priests; they are attached to the teaching of the Little Vehicle and the school of the Sarvāstivādas. There are several tens of Deva temples, in which sectaries of various denominations dwell. The king is of the Kṣattriya 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.
From this going south-east 2800 li or so, we come to the country of U-she-yen-na (Ujjayanī).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Prof. R. G. Bhāṇḍarkar suggests that Kukura, a district mentioned in an inscription of Pulumāyi at Nāsik, and in the Rudradāman inscription at Girnāra, might be Kiu-che-lo, but the Chinese syllables are against such an identification (Trans. Int. Cong. Orient., 1874, p. 312; Arch. Sur. W. Ind. Rep., vol. iv. p. 109, and vol. ii. pp. 129, 131.) Gurjara is certainly the proper representative, and the district as well as the language extended into the southern parts of modern Rājputāna and Mālwā. See Lassen, Ind. Alt., vol. i. p. 136; Colebrooke, Essays, vol. ii. p. 31 n.; Rājataraṅg., v. 144 ff.
[2]:
Bālmer in Rājputāna (lat. 25° 48'N long. 71° 16' E.) From this neighbourhood several of the clans in Kāthiāwād say they originally came.