Abstract
Reported in the Si-Yu-Ki, Fa-hsien, a Chinese pilgrim to South Asia's Buddhist dominions ca. 400
CE, observed a location where Buddhist and Brahmanical places of worship stood side-by-side (Beal
1906, I: xlvii).
To the east of the road is a temple (Dévälaya) belonging to the heretics, which is
. and Of the same height. It has
named 'Shadow-covered'. It is opposite the vihära .
received the name 'Shadow-covered' because when the sun is in the west, the shadow
of the vihära of the Lord of the World covers the temple of the heretics; but when the
sun is in the east, the shadow of the latter is bent to the north, and does not
overshadow the chapel Of the Buddha. The heretics constantly appointed persons to
sweep and water it, to burn incense and light lamps for religious worship; towards the
approach of morning their lamps disappeared and were discovered in the middle Of
the Buddhist chapel. On this the Brahmans, recognizing the greatness of Buddha's
spiritual power, forsook their families and became his disciples.
For many centuries, plural populations with a multitude of beliefs built Structures both for
civil use and religious worship. In the Buddhist heartland, near the Buddha's Jetavana-garden shrine,
the pilgrim reported (ibid. xlviii):
MICHAEL W. MEISTER . (2011) 'SHADOW-COVERED' DEVÄLAYALASI , Pakistan Heritage, Volume 3, Issue 1.
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