Vedic Burma-Myanmar
The Mon people living in the coastal districts have a tradition that Hindus from southern India, specifically from the lower courses of the Krishna and Godavari Rivers, crossed the sea in ancient times and settled on the Irrawaddy delta. Their culture and language mingled with those of the Mon.
According to the traditional history of Arakan, the first king of the province came from Benares on the Holy Ganga in India.
The discovery of stones inscribed with the ancient Indian Brahmi alphabet, used in the records of the Maurya Empire (326-185 BCE), proves that these traditional accounts have a basis in fact. Archaeological remains prove that the Sanskrit and Pali languages of India's Vedic Civilization were cultivated in Myanmar and that its people had adopted the Brahmanical and Buddhist religions then prevailing in India. Moreover, the rulers of different kingdoms in Myanmar all had Sanskrit names.
Historic Kingdoms
At the time of the Buddha, a Kshatriya clan from North India ruled upper Myanmar for 16 generations. Later this kingdom was lost and the clan founded a new state in lower Myanmar, with Sri-Kshetra (modern Prome) as capital. Here they merged into the original inhabitants, the Pyu people. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited India in the 7th century CE mentions this kingdom of Sri-Kshetra in his book. A Sanskrit inscription on the pedestal of a Buddha image bears the local ruler's name: Jayachandra-varman.
Hiuen Tsang mentions another kingdom to the south of Sri-Kshetra called Dvaravati. This was ruled by the Hinduised Mon people. The Mons also inhabited the coastal regions of lower Myanmar, which were known as Ramannadesa.
As per epigraphic records, a Hindu dynasty called Sri-Dharmarajaniya-Vamsa ruled in Arakan between 600-1000 CE. Coins found in the region have the names of rulers like Dharma Chandra, Niti Chandra and Vira Chandra. The capital of this kingdom was Vaisali whose ruins (modern Vethali) are found near Mrohaung.
The greatest of all these historic states was the Pyu Kingdom of Sri-Kshetra. It had 9 fortified garrison towns, while the capital Sri-Kshetra was over 40 km in circumference. It was protected by a moat and a wall built of glazed bricks, which had 12 gates and towers at the four corners. Within the city lived thousands of families, with over 100 Buddhist monasteries, and an opulent royal court awash with gold and silver.
On the east of the Pyu Kingdom lay the Thai Kingdom of Nan-Chao—its rulers claimed descent from Ashok of the Maurya Empire and its Sanskrit name was Gandhara. In 754 CE the Thai king defeated the Chinese and invaded Sri-Kshetra, receiving the submission of the Pyus. A branch of the Thais, the Shan, settled in upper Mynamar and gave their name to the region. Again in 832 CE the Thais invaded, this time entering the capital city, plundering its wealth and taking 3000 prisoners.
But the Pyu Kingdom survived this blow. A new capital was established at Arimardanpura (Pagan) in 849 CE, which continued till the 11th century. By this time a new power was making its presence felt in Myanmar.
The Myamma People
The Myamma (modern Bamar)trace their original home to Tibet and, passing through India, reached the forested regions of Myanmar at a remote period. There being no substantial local population, the Myamma multiplied rapidly and probably also received a small infusion of Indian immigrants into this mass.
The Myamma were tough and warlike when compared to the Pyus or Mons, and the decline of the Pyu Kingdom was their opportunity. They established their own rule over Pagan—in 1044 CE Aniruddha, the greatest ruler of Myanmar, ascended the throne. He conquered and annexed the Mon Kingdom, in the process embracing the Hinduised Mon culture, adopting the Mon religion (Theravada Buddhism) and scripture, and adopting the Mon script for writing. Aniruddha's conquests covered the whole country, including parts of Arakan. Even the proud Shan princes had to submit to Aniruddha.
His son Tribhuvanaditya-dharmaraja (1084 CE) built the famous Ananda temple, inspired by the designs of contemporary Indian temples. He also sent funds for the repair of Bodh Gaya in Bihar, and married a Chola princess. South Arakan acknowledged his supremacy. His grandson was married to an Indian princess from Pattikhera (Tripura).
Internal dissensions and intrigues plagued the ruling family for the next few generations. At this time a new danger was looming on the horizon. In 1254 CE Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China, conquered the Thai Kingdom of Gandhara (Nan-Chao) and scattered the Thai people—branches entering the Shan region and others going south into Siam (modern Thailand).
In 1271 CE Kublai demanded the submission of Myanmar. The latter retaliated by boldly sending an army into the borderland, which was defeated. Revolts broke out across the country, and the king was murdered, but the knockout blow was delivered by the Mongols. Kublai Khan's grandson marched into Pagan and completely destroyed it. The Mongols thought did not stay to rule the country, which entered a phase of political disintegration and cultural decay for the next three centuries.
Modern and ancient names
The name Burma, familiar to people from the colonial period, was a corruption of Brahma (Bramma) and was initially believed by philologists to be derived from the Vedic God of that name. Given the Indian influence on South-East Asia in those times, this appeared logical.
But from inscriptions, it becomes apparent that it was the tribal name Myamma, which was Sanskritized to Mramma, and later became Brahma or Bramma. This is because of the adoption of the Sanskrit and Pali languages by the various peoples of Myanmar in ancient times.
The name Bramma was later anglicized to Burma and continued through the colonial and post-colonial periods till it was changed to Myanmar. This change harks back to the glorious period of Myamma rule and the political unification of the country. And since the Myamma tolerated and openly embraced the cultures of the various peoples of the country, it's fitting to revert to the old name for the country.
According to the traditional history of Arakan, the first king of the province came from Benares on the Holy Ganga in India.
The discovery of stones inscribed with the ancient Indian Brahmi alphabet, used in the records of the Maurya Empire (326-185 BCE), proves that these traditional accounts have a basis in fact. Archaeological remains prove that the Sanskrit and Pali languages of India's Vedic Civilization were cultivated in Myanmar and that its people had adopted the Brahmanical and Buddhist religions then prevailing in India. Moreover, the rulers of different kingdoms in Myanmar all had Sanskrit names.
Historic Kingdoms
At the time of the Buddha, a Kshatriya clan from North India ruled upper Myanmar for 16 generations. Later this kingdom was lost and the clan founded a new state in lower Myanmar, with Sri-Kshetra (modern Prome) as capital. Here they merged into the original inhabitants, the Pyu people. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited India in the 7th century CE mentions this kingdom of Sri-Kshetra in his book. A Sanskrit inscription on the pedestal of a Buddha image bears the local ruler's name: Jayachandra-varman.
Hiuen Tsang mentions another kingdom to the south of Sri-Kshetra called Dvaravati. This was ruled by the Hinduised Mon people. The Mons also inhabited the coastal regions of lower Myanmar, which were known as Ramannadesa.
As per epigraphic records, a Hindu dynasty called Sri-Dharmarajaniya-Vamsa ruled in Arakan between 600-1000 CE. Coins found in the region have the names of rulers like Dharma Chandra, Niti Chandra and Vira Chandra. The capital of this kingdom was Vaisali whose ruins (modern Vethali) are found near Mrohaung.
The greatest of all these historic states was the Pyu Kingdom of Sri-Kshetra. It had 9 fortified garrison towns, while the capital Sri-Kshetra was over 40 km in circumference. It was protected by a moat and a wall built of glazed bricks, which had 12 gates and towers at the four corners. Within the city lived thousands of families, with over 100 Buddhist monasteries, and an opulent royal court awash with gold and silver.
On the east of the Pyu Kingdom lay the Thai Kingdom of Nan-Chao—its rulers claimed descent from Ashok of the Maurya Empire and its Sanskrit name was Gandhara. In 754 CE the Thai king defeated the Chinese and invaded Sri-Kshetra, receiving the submission of the Pyus. A branch of the Thais, the Shan, settled in upper Mynamar and gave their name to the region. Again in 832 CE the Thais invaded, this time entering the capital city, plundering its wealth and taking 3000 prisoners.
But the Pyu Kingdom survived this blow. A new capital was established at Arimardanpura (Pagan) in 849 CE, which continued till the 11th century. By this time a new power was making its presence felt in Myanmar.
The Myamma People
The Myamma (modern Bamar)trace their original home to Tibet and, passing through India, reached the forested regions of Myanmar at a remote period. There being no substantial local population, the Myamma multiplied rapidly and probably also received a small infusion of Indian immigrants into this mass.
The Myamma were tough and warlike when compared to the Pyus or Mons, and the decline of the Pyu Kingdom was their opportunity. They established their own rule over Pagan—in 1044 CE Aniruddha, the greatest ruler of Myanmar, ascended the throne. He conquered and annexed the Mon Kingdom, in the process embracing the Hinduised Mon culture, adopting the Mon religion (Theravada Buddhism) and scripture, and adopting the Mon script for writing. Aniruddha's conquests covered the whole country, including parts of Arakan. Even the proud Shan princes had to submit to Aniruddha.
His son Tribhuvanaditya-dharmaraja (1084 CE) built the famous Ananda temple, inspired by the designs of contemporary Indian temples. He also sent funds for the repair of Bodh Gaya in Bihar, and married a Chola princess. South Arakan acknowledged his supremacy. His grandson was married to an Indian princess from Pattikhera (Tripura).
Internal dissensions and intrigues plagued the ruling family for the next few generations. At this time a new danger was looming on the horizon. In 1254 CE Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China, conquered the Thai Kingdom of Gandhara (Nan-Chao) and scattered the Thai people—branches entering the Shan region and others going south into Siam (modern Thailand).
In 1271 CE Kublai demanded the submission of Myanmar. The latter retaliated by boldly sending an army into the borderland, which was defeated. Revolts broke out across the country, and the king was murdered, but the knockout blow was delivered by the Mongols. Kublai Khan's grandson marched into Pagan and completely destroyed it. The Mongols thought did not stay to rule the country, which entered a phase of political disintegration and cultural decay for the next three centuries.
Modern and ancient names
The name Burma, familiar to people from the colonial period, was a corruption of Brahma (Bramma) and was initially believed by philologists to be derived from the Vedic God of that name. Given the Indian influence on South-East Asia in those times, this appeared logical.
But from inscriptions, it becomes apparent that it was the tribal name Myamma, which was Sanskritized to Mramma, and later became Brahma or Bramma. This is because of the adoption of the Sanskrit and Pali languages by the various peoples of Myanmar in ancient times.
The name Bramma was later anglicized to Burma and continued through the colonial and post-colonial periods till it was changed to Myanmar. This change harks back to the glorious period of Myamma rule and the political unification of the country. And since the Myamma tolerated and openly embraced the cultures of the various peoples of the country, it's fitting to revert to the old name for the country.
Comments
Post a Comment