Chapter 3 - Country of ’O-ye-mu-khie (Hayamukha)

Note: This country has not been satisfactorily identified. Cunningham places the capital at Dauṇḍia Khera, about 104 miles north-west of Allahābād.

This kingdom is 2400 or 2500 li in circuit, and the chief town, which borders on the Ganges, is about 20 li round. Its products and climate are the same as those of Ayodhyā. The people are of a simple and honest disposition. They diligently apply themselves to learning and cultivate religion. There are five saṅghārāmas, with about a thousand priests. They belong to the Sammatīya school of the Little Vehicle. There are ten Deva temples, occupied by sectaries of various kinds.

Not far to the south-east of the city, close to the shore of the Ganges, is a stūpa built by Aśoka-rāja, 200 feet high. Here Buddha in old time repeated the law for three months. Beside it are traces where the four past Buddhas walked and sat.

There is also another stone stūpa, containing relics of Buddha's hair and nails.

By the side of this stūpa is a saṅghārāma with about 200 disciples in it. There is here a richly adorned statue of Buddha, as grave and dignified as if really alive. The towers and balconies are wonderfully carved and constructed, and rise up imposingly (or, in great numbers) above the building. In old days Buddhadāsa (Fo-t'o-t'o-so),^[1] a master of śāstras, composed in this place the Mahāvibhāṣa śāstra of the school of the Sarvāstivādins.

Going south-east 700 li, passing to the south of the Ganges, we come to the kingdom of Po-lo-ye-kia (prayāga).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Julien has pointed out that the symbol "po" is for "so". The Chinese rendering is "servant of Buddha."