Shrikshetra

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Shrikshetra (श्रीक्षेत्र) was an ancient city in Burma founded by rulers from India. The city of Shrikshetra has been located at Hmawza near Prome.

Origin

Variants

History

Sri Ksetra or Thaye Khittaya (သရေခေတ္တရာ [θəjè kʰɪʔtəjà]; lit., "Field of Fortune"[1] or "Field of Glory"[2]), located 8 km southeast of Prome (Pyay) at present-day Hmawza village,[3] was the last and southernmost Pyu capital. The city was founded between the 5th and 7th centuries,[4]although during two of the recent excavations, January to February 2015 and December 2015 to February 2016, led by Janice Stargardt in Yahanda mound at Sri Ksetra, sherds stamped with Buddhist motifs were found, dated from c. 340 +/- 30 CE.[25] and Pyu culture cremation burials around 270 +/- 30 CE.[5] Sri Ksetra likely overtook Halin as the premier Pyu city by the 7th or 8th century, and retained that status until the Mranma arrived in the 9th century. The city was home to at least two dynasties, and maybe three. The first dynasty, called the Vikrama Dynasty, is believed to have launched the Pyu calendar, which later became the Burmese calendar, on 22 March 638.[6] The second dynasty was founded by King Duttabaung on 25 March 739 (11th waxing of Tagu 101 ME).[7]

Sri Ksetra is the largest Pyu site discovered thus far. (Only Beikthano and Sri Ksetra have been extensively excavated. Other important Pyu cities as Maingmaw and Binnaka could yield more artefacts with more extensive excavations.) It occupied a larger area than that of the 11th century Pagan or 19th century Mandalay. Circular in design, Sri Ksetra was more than 13 km in circumference and three to four km across, or about 1400 hectares of occupied area. The city's brick walls were 4.5 meters high, and had 12 gates with huge devas (deities) guarding the entrances and a pagoda at each of the four corners.[8]

It also has curving gateways, such as those found at Halin and Beikthano. In the centre of the city was what most scholars think represented the rectangular palace site, 518 meters by 343 meters, symbolising both a mandala and a zata (horoscope), like in Maingmaw.[9] Only the southern half of the city was taken up by the palace, monasteries and houses; the entire northern half consisted of rice fields. Together with the moats and walls, this arrangement ensured that the city could withstand a long siege by enemies.[10]

Sri Ksetra was an important entrepôt between China and India. It was located on the Irrawaddy, not far from the sea as the Irrawaddy delta had not yet been formed. Ships from the Indian Ocean could come up to Prome to trade with the Pyu realm and China.[11] Trade with India brought deep cultural contacts. Sri Ksetra has yielded the most extensive remains of Theravada Buddhism. Religious art suggests several distinct occupations with earlier influences stemming from Southeast India and later influences from Southwest India while 9th century influences include those from the Nanzhao Kingdom.[12] Much of the Chinese account of the Pyu states was through Sri Ksetra. Chinese pilgrims Xuanzang in 648 and Yijing in 675 mentioned Sri Ksetra in their accounts of Buddhist kingdoms of Southeast Asia. The Tang histories mention the arrival at the court of an embassy from the Pyu capital in 801.[13]

Indian Origin Places in Burma

Dineschandra Sircar[14] writes.... Among Sanskrit-Pali names in Burma, mention may be made of Golanagara or Golamrittikanagara (modern Ayetthema, 20 miles north of Thaton, Gola being supposed to stand for Gauda[15] Kalasapura (to the south eat of Prome near the mouth of Sittang,[16] Ramapura (Moulmein), Ramanyadesh (Lowe Burma)[17] and Shri (Bhamo or Tagaung).[18]. The principalities of Pushkaravati, Trihakumbha, Asitanjana and Ramyanagara were situated in the region of Rangoon, Ramavati and Dhanyavati (modern Rakhaingmyu being situated in Arakan[19] The city of Shrikshetra has been located at Hmawza near Prome. Sudharmapura is modern Thaton and the city of Arimardanapura is Pagan situated in the land of Tattadesha and the kingdom of Tamradvipa [20]


श्रीक्षेत्र

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[21] ने लेख किया है .... 1. श्रीक्षेत्र (AS, p.918) = (बर्मा) दक्षिण ब्रह्मदेश में एक प्राचीन भारतीय औपनिवेशिक राज्य, जिसका अभिज्ञान प्रोम के निकट स्थित 'हमाज़ा' (Hmauza) से किया गया है। इसकी स्थापना 'प्यूस' (Pyus) लोगों ने की थी, जो हिन्दू धर्म के अनुयायी थे। चीनी यात्री युवानच्वांग के अनुसार श्रीक्षेत्र राज्य पूर्वी भारत की सीमा के बाहर प्रथम विशाल हिन्दू राज्य था। यहाँ से प्राप्त प्यूस अभिलेखों से विदित होता है कि इस राज्य की समृद्धि का युग तीसरी शती ई. से सातवीं शती ई. तक था। नवीं शती के पश्चात् श्रीक्षेत्र राज्य की पूर्ण अवनति हो गई थी।

2. श्रीक्षेत्र (AS, p.918) = पुरी (उड़ीसा)

External links

References

  1. ↑ Htin Aung, Maung (1967). A History of Burma. New York and London: Cambridge University Press.p.8
  2. ↑ Aung-Thwin, Michael (1996). "Kingdom of Bagan". In Gillian Cribbs (ed.). Myanmar Land of the Spirits. Guernsey: Co & Bear Productions. ISBN 978-0-9527665-0-6.p.77
  3. ↑ Thein, Cherry (14 November 2011). "Pyu burial site discovered at Sri Ksetra". The Myanmar Times.
  4. ↑ Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella (ed.). The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1. pp. 62–63,77
  5. ↑ "Sri Ksetra, Ancient Pyu City - Director Janice Stargardt — Department of Archaeology". Arch.cam.ac.uk.
  6. ↑ Hall, D.G.E. (1960). Burma (3rd ed.). Hutchinson University Library. ISBN 978-1-4067-3503-1. pp.8-10
  7. ↑ Aung-Thwin 2005: 24–26
  8. ↑ Aung-Thwin 2005: 24–26
  9. ↑ Aung-Thwin 2005: 24–26
  10. ↑ Htin Aung 1967: 10–11
  11. ↑ Htin Aung 1967: 8
  12. ↑ Aung-Thwin 2005: 24–26
  13. ↑ Htin Aung 1967: 20–21
  14. ↑ Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India, By Dineschandra Sircar, p.319
  15. ↑ ibid.,p.195
  16. ↑ ibid.,p.197
  17. ↑ ibid.,p.196
  18. ↑ ibid.,p.200
  19. ↑ Coedes, The Indianised States in South-East Asia,p.329,cf p.156, RC Majumdar,opcit,p.202
  20. ↑ RC Majumdar,opcit,p.207
  21. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.918
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