Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Chapter 13 India Shri Lanka and Southeast Asia PDF Download

India, Sri Lanka And Southeast Asia

13.1 India and Sri Lanka

The history of Sri Lanka and India has remained close-knit from ancient times. 'Deepvamsa', 'Mahavamsa', 'Chullavamsa' are the three texts that tell us about the Indian and Sri Lankan dynasties, their mutual relations and the historical events, in the times before and after Gautama Buddha. These texts are known as 'Vamsagranthas'.

According to the Vamsagranthas, the first kingdom of Sri Lanka was established in the 6th century C.E. and was known as 'Tambapanni (Tamrapanni)'. Another name of the kingdom was 'Rajrat'. Greek historians have mentioned it as 'Taprobane'. According to the tradition, King Vijaya, the founder of this kingdom was a prince from the Vang-Kalinga kingdom in India. He first went to Supparaka (Sopara) on the west coast of India from Vang-Kalinga and from there reached Sri Lanka.

Thera Mahinda (Mahendra), son of Emperor Ashoka arrived at Mihinthale, near Anuradhpur, the capital of Sri Lanka. He initiated (pabbajja/pravrajjya) King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka to Buddhism. This event has been described in great details in the vamsagranthas. After listening to the sermon from Thera Mahinda, the King and all the subjects accompanying him became the followers of Buddhism. Anula, the wife of king's younger brother wished to become a Bhikkhuni. On hearing of her wish, Thera Mahinda suggested that his sister Theri Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra) may be invited from India, for the purpose. Accordingly, Theri Sanghamitta arrived in Sri Lanka. She brought a branch of the 'Bodhi' tree along with her. King Devanampiya Tissa welcomed her personally. Theri Sanghamitta initiated Anula into the Buddhist Sangha. Anula was the first woman to became a Buddhist nun. With Anula's initiation, Theri Sanghmitta established the first Bhikkhuni Shasan (Bhikkhuni Sangha) of Sri Lanka.

The festival known as 'Unduvapa Poya'* is celebrated every year in Sri Lanka, on the full moon in the month of December, in the memory of Theri Sanghamitta's arrival.

The Important Cultural Places In Sri Lanka

Anuradhpur - Mihinthale

Thera Mahinda and Theri Sanghamitta stayed at Mihinthale near Anuradhpaur. It facilitated the establishment and spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

Important Stupas At Anuradhpur-Mihinthale

'Kantakchetiya' is one of the earliest stupas at Mihinthale. An inscription near the stupa mentions that the revenue collected from a nearby tank and the surrounding land was reserved as a gift for the maintainance of this stupa.

The stupa erected on the remains (Sharerik Dhatu/asthi) of Thera Mahinda at Mihinthale, is known as 'Ambasthal Thupa'.

Thuparama

King Devanampiya Tissa erected a stupa on the relics of Gautama Buddha in Anuradhpur. It is known as 'Thuparama'. Thuparama is the earilest stupa among those that are extant in Sri Lanka.

Buddhaghosha was an Indian philosopher. He stayed 'Mahavihara' in Anuradhpur. 'Vishuddhimagga' a text written by him is well-known. 'Vishuddhimagga' is the text, which is honoured as an equivalent of Tipitaka texts.

Pulatthinagar (Polannaruwa)

The city of Polannaruwa is mentioned in Chullvamasa by the name, 'Pulatthinagar'. In the 10th century C.E. the Chola emperor Rajraja I attacked Sri Lanka and razed Anuradhpur completely. Then he established his capital at Polannaruwa. He renamed Polannaruwa as 'Jananathmangalam' and built a Shiva temple there. Later he built one more Shiva temple as a memorial to his queen. These temples are the most ancient Hindu temples in Sri Lanka.

The supremacy of the Cholas in Sri Lanka was ended by Vijayabahu. Parakramabahu, a descendant of Vijayabahu, who ruled in 12th century C.E. is supposed to be historically an important king. The Buddhist sanghas in Sri Lanka had become disrupted by the time of Parakramabahu. He, under the guidance of Mahathera Kassap, focused on reorganising them.

Parakramabahu had routed the kingdom of Ruhuna in Sri Lanka. This kingdom had a tooth of Gautam Buddha (dantdhatu) in their custody. It was reclaimed by King Nissanka Malla. He built a temple on it in Polannaruwa.

There is a stupa at the centre of the temple. At the foot of the stupa is a semicircular step, which is characteristic of the stupa architecture of Sri Lanka. It is called, 'Moonstone' (Chandrashila). It is carved with the figures of swans, elephants, horses and creepers.

Galapotha (Book in stone) is a unique inscription recording the reign and achievements of Nissanka Malla. It is inscribed on a stone slab that is 8.17 metre long and 1.39 metre wide. On one side of the galapotha an image of Gajalakshmi is carved between two borders of a row of swans.

The temple of dantdhatu at present is in the city of 'Kandy'. It is known as 'Sri Dalad Maligava'. This temple is enlisted as the World Cultural Heritage.

Dambulla and Sigiriya

The caves at Dambulla in Sri Lanka are declared as World Cultural Heritage. There are images of Gautama Buddha and the Bodhisattvas inside the caves. The roofs of five caves at Dambulla are decorated with paintings. There is an enormous rock in the mountains near the city of Dambulla. A fort and a palace was built on this rock. At its entrance a huge image of a lion was carved in the rock. The place was named 'Sigiriya' after this lion. Sigiriya murals are compared with the murals at Ajanta.

Teacher's Note

Sri Lanka is very close to India. Our king Ashoka sent his son to teach Buddhism there. Just like how Aadhaar connects all Indians, Buddhism connected India and Sri Lanka.

Exam Trick

Remember: Thera Mahinda = son of Ashoka = brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Theri Sanghamitta = sister = brought Bodhi tree. Mother and son = spreading Buddha's message!

Points to Remember

Sri Lanka and India have been friends since very old times.
King Vijaya was the first king of Sri Lanka.
Ashoka's son Thera Mahinda brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
Ashoka's daughter Theri Sanghamitta brought the Bodhi tree.
Anula was the first woman Buddhist nun in Sri Lanka.

13.2 India and Southeast Asia

There are very few references in the Indian literature to the Indian settlements and kingdoms in Southeast Asia. However, the court records of Chinese emperors provide considerable information in this regard. The ancient Indian literature refers to the land of Southeast Asia as 'Suvarabhumi' (the Land of Gold).

The trading relations between India and Southeast Asia began in the 1st century B.C.E. and continued through the 1st century C.E. The strait of Malacca was convenient for the Indian merchants to enter the South China Sea. They unloaded their merchandise on the western coast of Malya Peninsula, from there transported it to the east coast by land route and again loaded it on the boats. This was easier than proceeding along the coast all the way. This trade by the sea and land route grew to a great extent under the rule of Chola kings at the end of the 10th century C.E.

The term 'Southeast Asia' was coined in the times of the second world war. The Buddhist texts mention a 'Suvarnabhumi'. The scholars divide Southeast Asia into two parts based on its geographic features:

1. The Mainland - This region is also known as Indo-China. It comprises the countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and also the western region of Malaysia.

2. The Maritime region - It comprises the Malaya peninsula, the eastern region of Malaysia as well as Indonesia. Although all these regions are included under a single umbrella name as Southeast Asia, it is necessary to keep in mind the local diversity of cultural and historical constitution of each region.

The contact of Indians with various regions in Southeast Asia was on the increase because of trade during the 2nd century B.C.E. to 2nd century C.E. The merchants who had to travel for months together were naturally accompanied by a large retinue of priests, monks, also travellers who were out to test their luck, ambitious members of royal families etc. These were the people who proved instrumental in the spread of Indian culture in Southeast Asia. Some of them even established independent kingdoms in the new lands they visited. Traces of Indian culture can be seen there even today.

Myanmar

'Myanmar' is a neighbouring country of India, adjacent to its northeast border. It was earlier known as 'Brahmdesh'. In the 2nd century B.C.E. there were city states known as 'Pyu' in the north and central regions of Myanmar. Some new Pyu cities came into existence at a later period. Among them the cities of 'Halin' and 'Shrikshetra' were important.

Shrikshetra (near the city which was known as 'Prome' during the British period and presently known as 'Pyay') was the largest among the 'Pyu' cities. According to the prevailing tradition the two brothers, who were the founders of Shrikshetra hailed from the Shakya clan of Gautam Buddha. The kingdom of Pagan (Bagan) arose in Myanmar in the 1st century C.E. and by the 11th century it grew into a great empire. All the Pyu city states including Shrikshetra were merged into the empire of Pagan.

King Anawrahta the founder of 'Pagan empire' is known as the greatest ruler in the history of Myanmar. He is credited with the unification of the north and the south Myanmar. This unification is supposed to have given Myanmar its national identity. Anawrahta put a check to the increasing power of the Khmer empire of Cambodia. During his reign the 'Thervada Buddhism', which had grown weaker, was revived.

The remains of the fortifications and moats around the three Pyu cities of Halin, Beikthano and Shrikshetra can be seen even today. The archaeological excavations at the sites of these cities have brought into light many remains of buildings of those days, stupas, cemeteries and the structures built for water management. The three sites have been declared as the World Cultural Heritage.

The 'Shwedagon' pagoda built between 6th - 10th century C.E. at Yongan (Rangoon) is looked at as the finest example of the stupa architecture in Myanmar. It is said that two merchant brothers had visited India and they had the fortune of meeting Gautama Buddha in person. At that time they had received 8 hair of the Buddha from himself. After returning to their motherland they handed over the hair to the king. The king erected a stupa on the hair and it came to be known as 'Shwedagon' pagoda. This pagoda is covered with sheets of gold.

The 'Anand Temple' is another important monument built during the reign of Kyanzittha, the emperor of Pagan in the 11th century C.E. It is the finest example of the combined architectural style of India and Pagan.

Teacher's Note

Myanmar is India's neighbor. Long ago, Indian merchants and monks brought Buddhism and culture there. Just like how Gujrati traders made Bombay great, Indian traders made Myanmar great.

Exam Trick

Remember: Myanmar = Brahmdesh = Pagan empire = King Anawrahta. Shwedagon pagoda = covered with gold = finest stupa in Myanmar. One smart tip: Shwedagon has 8 hairs of Buddha!

Points to Remember

Myanmar was old called Brahmdesh.
Pyu cities were in ancient Myanmar.
King Anawrahta founded the Pagan empire.
He made Buddhism strong again in Myanmar.
Shwedagon pagoda is covered with gold sheets.

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