Traders, Kings and Pilgrims

Introduction

Trade and religion have always travelled together. When merchants went to new lands, they carried not only goods but also ideas. When pilgrims travelled to distant places, they opened new routes and built new connections. This chapter tells the story of how traders and pilgrims connected India with the world — from the markets of Rome to the monasteries of China.

The Silk Route

The Silk Route was one of the most famous trade routes in world history. It connected China with India, Central Asia, Persia, Arabia, and Europe.

Why Is It Called the Silk Route?

• Silk was the most valuable trade item from China.
• The route was about 6,400 km long.
• It was not a single road but a network of routes.
• The route crossed deserts, mountains, and grasslands.

Route

The Silk Route had two main branches:

1. Northern route — From China through Central Asia (Samarkand, Bukhara) to Persia and the Mediterranean
2. Southern route — From China through the Karakoram Pass to India, then to West Asia

Goods Traded on the Silk Route

Ideas Travelled Too

• Buddhism spread from India to China through the Silk Route.
• Indian monks travelled to China; Chinese monks came to India.
• Buddhist texts and art styles moved along the route.
• The Gandhara School of Art (in present-day Pakistan/Afghanistan) blended Greek and Indian styles — this art spread along the Silk Route.

The Silk Route was not just a trade route — it was a highway of ideas, religions, art, and technology.

The Spread of Buddhism

Why Did Buddhism Spread?

1. Simple teachings — The Buddha's message was easy to understand.
2. Common language — The Buddha taught in Pali, the language of ordinary people.
3. No caste — Buddhism did not discriminate by caste.
4. Monastic organisation — The Sangha helped spread the teachings.
5. Royal patronage — Kings like Ashoka, Kanishka, and Harsha supported Buddhism.
6. Trade connections — Merchants took Buddhism wherever they went.

Buddhism in South-east Asia

Buddhism spread to:

• Sri Lanka — By Ashoka's son Mahinda and daughter Sanghamitta
• Myanmar (Burma) — Through trade contacts
• Thailand — By Buddhist monks from India
• Cambodia — Became a centre of Buddhism (Angkor Wat was originally a Buddhist temple)
• Indonesia — The Sailendra dynasty built the magnificent Borobudur Stupa
• Vietnam — Buddhism arrived through both Indian and Chinese influence

Buddhism in Central and East Asia

• Central Asia — Buddhist monasteries flourished along the Silk Route
• China — Buddhism arrived in the 1st century CE
• Korea — Buddhism arrived from China in the 4th century
• Japan — Buddhism arrived from Korea in the 6th century

The spread of Buddhism from India to East Asia is one of the most important cultural transmissions in world history. It changed the art, literature, and philosophy of entire civilisations.

Chinese Pilgrims

Several Chinese monks travelled to India to study Buddhism and collect Buddhist texts. Their travel accounts are valuable historical sources.

Fa Xian (Faxian)

• Period: 399-414 CE (visited India during the Gupta period)
• Route: Travelled through Central Asia to reach India, returned by sea via Sri Lanka
• Time in India: About 10 years (visited Pataliputra, Vaishali, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and many other places)
• Main work: 'A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms' (Fo Guo Ji)
• Observations:
  • Described the prosperity of the Gupta Empire
  • Noted that Pataliputra was a rich and flourishing city
  • Wrote about Buddhist monasteries and stupas
  • Mentioned that the caste system existed but was not very rigid
  • India was a peaceful place with low taxes

Fa Xian's account is our best source for understanding India during the Gupta period.

Xuan Zang (Hiuen Tsang)

• Period: 630-643 CE (visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana)
• Route: Travelled through the Karakoram Pass and Kashmir to reach India
• Time in India: About 13 years (visited almost all parts of India)
• Main work: 'Great Tang Records on the Western Regions' (Da Tang Xi Yu Ji)
• Observations:
  • Described the rule of King Harshavardhana of Kannauj
  • Visited Nalanda University (the most famous university of ancient India)
  • Studied at Nalanda for several years
  • Collected Buddhist texts and statues to take back to China
  • Mentioned the condition of farmers, the quality of roads, and the prosperity of cities

Xuan Zang's detailed descriptions of India's geography, society, and economy are invaluable for historians. His work fills many gaps in our knowledge of 7th-century India.

The Bhakti Movement

The Bhakti movement began in South India around the 6th-7th centuries CE. Bhakti means 'devotion' or 'love' for God.

Features of Early Bhakti

1. Personal devotion — Emphasis on individual love for God, not rituals
2. No intermediaries — A person can directly reach God without priests
3. Local languages — Bhakti saints preached in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada
4. Rejection of caste — All people, regardless of caste, could practise Bhakti
5. Emotional worship — Singing, dancing, and ecstatic devotion

Alvars and Nayanars

Bhakti was spread by two groups of saints in South India:

Alvars (those who are immersed in devotion to God):

• 12 Alvar saints
• Devoted to Vishnu (especially Krishna)
• Famous Alvars: Nammalvar, Andal (the only woman Alvar), Tiruppan Alvar

Nayanars (leaders/servants of God):

• 63 Nayanar saints
• Devoted to Shiva
• Famous Nayanars: Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar, Manikkavasagar

The Bhakti movement was a people's movement. It rejected the idea that only the rich and upper-caste could be religious. The poorest, lowest-caste person could love God just as much as a Brahmin.

AP Context: Buddhist Centres in Andhra

Andhra Pradesh was a major centre of Buddhism, especially from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

Amaravati School of Art

• Location: Amaravati, Guntur district
• Period: 2nd century BCE to 3rd century CE
• Features:
  • Famous for carved panels and sculptures
  • Depicts scenes from the Buddha's life and Jataka tales
  • Use of white marble (a unique feature)
  • The Amaravati Stupa was one of the largest stupas in India
  • Called the 'third school of art' after Gandhara and Mathura

The Amaravati School of Art is known for its delicate and elegant sculptures. The carvings show great skill and attention to detail.

Nagarjunakonda

• Location: Guntur district (now partially submerged under a dam reservoir)
• Period: 3rd-4th centuries CE
• Capital of the Ikshvaku dynasty
• Features:
  • A major Buddhist centre with many monasteries
  • Universities and libraries
  • Beautiful stupas and chaityas
  • Inscriptions in Brahmi script
  • Both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism flourished here

When the Nagarjunasagar Dam was built in the 1960s, many of the ancient structures were dismantled and moved to higher ground to save them from flooding.

Bhattiprolu

• Location: Guntur district
• Period: 3rd-2nd centuries BCE
• Features:
  • Ancient Buddhist stupa
  • A relic casket with inscriptions in Brahmi script
  • The Bhattiprolu script is an early form of Brahmi
  • This is considered a key site for understanding the evolution of Telugu script

Ghantasala

• Location: Krishna district
• Period: 2nd-3rd centuries CE
• Features:
  • An important port town
  • Buddhist stupa and monastery
  • Connected with sea trade to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
  • Roman coins and pottery have been found here

Common Mistakes Students Make

• Thinking the Silk Route was a single road — it was a network of routes.
• Confusing Fa Xian and Xuan Zang — Fa Xian visited during the Gupta period, Xuan Zang during Harsha's time.
• Believing the Bhakti movement started in North India — it started in South India.
• Thinking all Chinese pilgrims were Buddhist monks — some were also scholars and translators.
• Missing the Andhra connection — Andhra was one of the most important Buddhist regions of India.

Quick Self-Test

1. What was the Silk Route and why was it important?
2. Why did Buddhism spread to other countries?
3. Name three countries in Southeast Asia where Buddhism spread.
4. Who was Fa Xian and what did he write?
5. Who was Xuan Zang and what did he observe in India?
6. What is the Bhakti movement?
7. Who were the Alvars and Nayanars?
8. What is the Amaravati School of Art known for?
9. Where is Nagarjunakonda and why is it important?
10. Name three Buddhist centres in Andhra Pradesh.

Exam Focus (5 Marks)

• Describe the importance of the Silk Route in connecting different civilisations.
• Explain how Buddhism spread to different parts of Asia.
• Discuss the Buddhist heritage of Andhra Pradesh with specific sites.