Visali Era of Arakan history

Dear All,
In often, we, GMA-news group, would like to submit about some important part of Aakan history for you and any other observers.

As first time, we would like to focus on some important part of Vesali era from Rakhine Magazine, Volume 7, published in 1995.

Thanks for patience.


With regards,

GMA-News group

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Rakhine Magazine

1995, published, Volume: 7

English section

Contents
Page No:
Editor’s Note 142

Tai-Candra The Fouder of The Splendid Vesali 143
Oung Hla Thein

Vesali 146
Dr. Saw Tun Aung

Some Stupas From Ponnagyun Area 151
Ah Lonn Maung

The Story of The First Vasali 152

Court Counsellor Dhamma Zeya 156
- Tun Shwe Khin (M.A)
- (Translated by Lonn Aung Khine)

Editor’s note
Special issue on Rakhine Vesali period is an attempt by our Magazine committee to focus the importance and achievements of a time hidden in myths and legends. Half a century ago, Vesali is confused with Vaisali of India which is renowned in Buddhist literature. Even though it is less known to the general public, the historians and researchers who have studied it have a consensus- Vesali is great.
Who have made research and recorded the history and other aspects of the city which ridicules the beauty and splendor of the abode ‘of devas’? It is true that former native historians and literary figures recorded it. A king of contemporary period- Ananda Candra- have accomplished a great contribution by inscribing the facts and figures of his potentialities and those of his predecessors on the stone pillar, populary known as Ananda Candra Pillar, which is at present at Shitthaung Temple in Mrauk-Oo.
For centuries, the story and glory of the city had been subsided- or rather neglected. In the first half of he twentieth century, some touches on the subject were made by natives and foreigners alike. U San Shwe BU, an archaeologists, worked bard to bring to light the history of Rakhine including Vesali. Those who made special efforts to decipher the puzzle were U Oo Tha Tun, U Aung Tha Oo and U San Tha Aung. The deceased pandit wrote some articles on it and offered helping hand to many researchers. U Aung Tha Oo published a concise book on the subject entitled ‘Rakhine Cultures (Vesali Period) in 1966. In lectures and speeches he disclosed certain interesting points on it. The present writer had an opportunity to attend a lecture delivered by him. It was held in Arts Assembly Hall; Yangoon University in 1967. In his speech, he gave a long explanation on ‘Rakhine Coins’ including those of Vesali. Another great contributor on the subject was U San Tha Aung. His work- Buddhist Art of Ancient Arakan- is an masterpiece on its since it covers the whole of the Vesali period, emphasizing the artistic achievement of Buddhism in ancient Rakhineland.
Among the foreigners who tookinsight interest were were Dr. E.H Johnson and Dr. Sincar. Dr. Johnson was the first to decipher the Ananda Candra stone incriptions fully. Dr. Sincar tried to assign the reigns of the king of the period, one notable researcher was Dr. Pamela Gutman of Australia whose Ph.D thesis, Ancient Arakan, brought to light to a period enshrouded in legends.
In 1980s, Archaeological Department excavated the selected sites of the ruins city of Vesali and some of the findings were already reported through the newspaper and magazines to the reading public. The writers were authorities on the subject such as U Myint Aung and U Nyunt Han of the Department.
A new generation of the native researchers have sprung up to extend the scope of the field and depth of it. In their books and articles, they presented new findings such as stupas, stone inscriptions, bells, coins, religious images, pagodas, literary works and other artifacts discovered from different parts of he land or else not recorded.
Our special issue, we earnestly hope, will be a new addition on the subject so far, so wide and so arguable.
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TAI-CANDRA- THE FOUNDER OF THE SPLENDID VESALI
By Oung Hla Thein
In the first millennium of the Christian era, there rose in the liticral Rkhineland, a spsendid city called Vesali(Waythali in Rakhine) contemporary to the Gupta Empire of India in the west and the Pru Kingdom of Myanmar in the east. Vesali is also known as the Candra Kingdom due to its monarchs whose names end in the title of Candra or Chandra. The traditional founder of this famous dynasty was Tai-Candra. The authenticity of this king is attested by an inscription, which calls this City-Builder-King Dven Candra which, many scholars doubtlessly believe indentical to Tai of Chronicles.
Of Tai Candras, we have full accounts by chronicles almost all of which have till now remained unpublised. Deciphered in 1940s by the renown Sanskrit scholar Dr. Johnson, the Anandacandra inscription has also thrown much light on this warrior king. Among the rare records in Rakhine and stands high a manuscript composed in verse dated 1119 of Rakhine Era corresponding to 1757 AD. These sources and other oral history formed the kernel in presenting tradition have formed the kernel in presenting this king in this article.
Tai (or Taing after Phayre’s spelling) was the son of Thuria Ketu, the 25th ruler of Dynyawadi City founded by King Sanda Thuria, who is reputed to have introduced Buddhism to Rakhineland, Ketu was a might king but far from happiness for many years because he had no son to succeed him. His ling wish to father a son became finally fulfilled in his 22nd year of reign. After many prayer, his 29 year old chief queen bore him a lovely son child’s name, Maha Candra (Maha Can in Sanskrit). At the age of 9, the young Candra was married to a beautiful princess, and appointed heir apparent. It was a child-marriage but in line with the once-popular custom for ny services of the land. For 23 years he lived in other house, assisting his age father many years in his government and himself imbued with the art of polity.
At the age of about 30, Candra was assigned by his old father to repair the Mahamuni, the most sacred shine in ancient Rakhine. Some chronicles claim that it was in that very that Candra got the most miraculous spear called Ariadama (victorious spear) bestowed by a fairy. Some other chronicles confirm that Candra obtained the wounderful spear in the late 327 A.D. after building the city of Vesali. The first assamption appears reasonable in view of the Anandacandra Inscription, which says that the king Devn (Tai) conquered many kings, before he build the city history narrates us that Candra was deft with the new weapon and mastered spearmanship. While the shrine was placed under renovation, king Ketu died and Tai Candra ascended the throne of Dynyawadi. Unlike his ancestors, who asumed the title of Thuria (Suria), he bore a new title of Candra which his successors adopted. The date of the accession of Tai was assigned to 249 Rakhine Era(some claim 151 R.E) before the reformation of 560 RE in 638 A.D. the date of the present Rakhine calender. Thus, the date 249 RE of lod calendar corresponds to 326 A.D. This date acclaims support from archaeological evidence based mainly on an inscription which suggests that the accession of Dves was possibly in 350 or 370 A.D. The rival date 327 or 350 or 370 is 788 AD advocated by Nga May and Phayre. But it lacks archaeological support. In the year of accession, Maha Tai Candra subdued all his enemies, and consolidated his realm, hence his name Tai, a term derived from the Sanskrit DAM meaning “to conquer of subdue. The 8th century inscription of Ananda Candra mentions this king “DVEN probably derived from “DAM”. The inscription also claims that tae king conquered 10; kings and then built a compact city. Building of the beautiful city agree with the chronicles. But local records have a mention of temporary capital of Kenthonesont before there rose the beautiful city. The decision of shifting his capital from Dynyawadi has a long story to narrate fully.
The history of the Pharabaw Pagoda at Mrouk-Oo tells us that Tai was educated at Nalanda, Magadha of India. It was a practice of good Kshatiya kings to send their first sons to Nalanda or Taxila for education. At the time when Tai was in India, his host land was moving ahead to find her brilliant leader in Chadragupta. Perhaps the victory of Chandragupta had excited prince from Rakhine to become a grate warrior king Doubtlessly, Tai had gained much experience and knowledge on his return to homeland.
On the accession of throne, Tai found out that his capital has been no longer promising. The geographical change at the locality of his city favoured his decision to shift city. The Kaladan, its alluvial and swampy delta southwards, making Dynyawadi city more difficult to have access to the sea than before. At that time, the rise of Gupta Empire in India had timely demanded the Rakhine’s overseas trade extended in many folds. As Rakhine’s trade was mainly mantime, it badly needed good port nearer to the sea.
In view of this facts, Tai is believed to have moved his capital from his ancestral home-Dynyawadi which means the city of bounty rice. But he was unlucky with the first choice-Kanthonesont, which means literally Three-Tank-Site or the Tank with three concentric ponds. Six-month-long life in the new site proved unfavourable for the newly fouded settlement claimed many lives within seven months. It is probable that the blame lies on the hasty decision for a work that demanded through consultation. Histories have their blame on the Devil. But according to the record of the History of the localities dated 1119 RE, loss of lives was to blame an epidemic cholera that broke out because of unhealthy water tanks. Feared with the sudden catastrophe, the king consuled his ministers about the transfer of his new city. Now the king was lucky to find his new advisor in one minister named Kovidha who is said to have returned from India after a span of years pursuing astrology. Then came the bold decision of the king to move the city further south. It was Kason, the second month in the Rakhine calender and the most auspicious time of the year. When Tai founded his new capital at Vesali on the Rann Creek not very far away from then actuary of the Kaladan. The locality is bounded by a mountain range in the east and the Rann Creek in the west. Wide expense of alluvial lands occupied the other two sides. Some small creeks crisis-cross the landscape. A small range lies apart from the high mountain range. At the command of Tai, his subordinate kings transformed this locality into a very beautiful city within 27 weeks. The inscription mention us that the after conquering 101 kings, “built a compact city furnished with walls and moat ‘to become a city’ which laughed at the beauty of Paradise”.
According to the chronicles and local history, the choice of this magnificent city was done by the celestial gods. The story was a popular narration for every great feat that needed great care and skill. The Kernel of this choice is probable that the king had the most brilliant engineer in his realm to build arch a splendid city to wonder every onlooker, Oval in shape taken after the hide-cushion of hermit, the city layout was set in accord with the tradition; the sacred image- house to the north of palace, the city-gate on the east side, and the creamtion ground to the southeast of the Golden House. A large reservior for all the members of the palace was dug out at the western foothills of a small range inside the city walls. On the Rann Creak a few furlongs to the northwest of the city there was constructed a stone—pier-Kyoukhlayga in Rakhine-for which the city itself was well-known throughout the history. The pier proved a good port, drawing many mercantile vessels for trade every year. The enronicles record that on the day when the city was competed about ten thousand ships arrived at Vesali for trade in the weak of seven showers of jewelles. This story means that overseas trade flourished soon after the birth of Vesali. With the booming of trade, the king won more fame and respect of his vassals.
Mrotaynanntay Thamine of the History of Citied and Palaces has recorded the achievements of Tai Candra almost in full account. After founding the city, the king expanded the arable land throughout his kingdom and let the harvest increase rapidly with the help of reserviors and cannals which he build. Like today, the chief grain of that period was also Paddy, which was very important for both local consumption and foreign trade. Because he had experienced great pain at the sight of death of many people due to poor health, at Kanthonesont, his attention was given more to improve the health of the rural population. He wanted every village to have its native physician ready at hand to attend the sick. So he summoned a villager from each village to his capital and had them trained at the royal cost to become good physicians. Local history has it that the king built his herbal garden in the Zaw Gyi valley at his capital. The intention was to obtain rare herbs that were to be imported. To ease the trade, he standardised the measurements of his land and the greatest achievements of all was the circulation of silver cons. The coin bears on one side a crouching bull, the symbol of his birth on a Saturday and on the reverse the design of his golden crown flanked atop by the symbols of sun and moon to denote the races the north of his capital. In order to promote the fame of the shrine, he housed the most sacred image in a temple built of stone. Then he offered the image a golden spire(some claim it to be crown), that worthed much. He erected there three stone sculptures- Saka, Brahma and Earth-goddness- to guard the shrine supernaturally. This construction became the most attraction of the visitors throughout the history.
Chronicles express the proweas of Tai in many ways. He is said to have possessed a white elephant called Mon mation. It was a pride for every king of ancient times to own a white elephant. In course of time he came to obtain twelve other white elephants. This narration is likely uneant that he had twelve subordinate kings to alone many vassals after conquering his enemies. Tai was not only a talent warrior but also a popular administerer. The great help to his administration was rendered by a minister called Damazite. The word Damazite is corrupted form of Dhammazeya, which in Pali means justice. The Damazite was also called Praysoegri meaning ruler of the land. It was that Praysoegri was the chief minister and he ruled the land while the king reigned.
The founder king of Vesali flourished a long reign of 57 years during which he laid firmly the foundation for a powerful kingdom that it later time extended its away to the eastern Bengal for won the present of a princess from the king of Tamralipit in west Bengal. As regards the Tai’s flourishment, the inscription claim to be 55years, two years less than the chronicles record. After his death, his son ascended the throne. But for the named of the successor chronicles and inscription differ from each other. The former names him Thuriya while the latter records him as Raza.