Tamralipti
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (Retd.) |
Tamralipti (ताम्रलिप्ती) was an ancient port city and also one of Buddhist Kingdoms visited by Xuanzang in 639 AD. It has been identified with the modern Tamluk in the Midnapur district, West Bengal, India. [1] Tamralipta (ताम्रलिप्त) was one of The Mahabharata Tribes mentioned in in the tribute list (II.48.17), probably modern Tamluk, Bengal. They joined the Pandavas in the war (VIII.17.2).[2][3]
Variants of name
- Tamralipta (ताम्रलिप्त) = Tamraliptaka (ताम्रलिप्तक) = Tamralipti (ताम्रलिप्ति)= Damalipta (दामलिप्त) (दे. मेदिनीपुर, प.बंगाल) (AS, p.396)
- Tamralipti (ताम्रलिप्ति) (AS, p.396)
- Tamraliptika (ताम्रलिप्तिक) (AS, p.396)
- Tamraliptaka (ताम्रलिप्तक) (AS, p.396)
- Damalipta (दामलिप्त) (AS, p.431)
- Tamaliththiya (तामलित्थिय) =Tamralipti (ताम्रलिप्ति) (AS, p.393)
- Tamalipti
- Tamalitti (Mahavansa/Chapter 11) (AS, p.396)
Location
Located as the modern Tamluk in the Midnapur district, Bengal.
History
Tej Ram Sharma[4] writes that The Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang proceeded from Kamarupa southwards and after a journey of 1,200 or 1,300 li (6 li- 1 mile) reached the country of Samatata. According to him, this country was on the seaside and was low and moist and was more than 3,000 li in circuit. 652 From Samatata, the pilgrim journeyed towards the West for over 900 li and reached Tanmolihti, or Tamralipta, the modern Tamluk in the Midnapur district, Bengal.
ताम्रलिप्ति
विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर[5] ने लेख किया है ...ताम्रलिप्त = ताम्रलिप्तक = ताम्रलिप्ति = दामलिप्त (दे. मेदिनीपुर, प.बंगाल) (AS, p.396)
रूपनारायण नदी के पश्चिमी तट पर वर्तमान तामलुक ही प्राचीन ताम्रलिप्ति है. श्री काशी प्रसाद जायसवाल का मत है कि संस्कृत ताम्रलिप्त शब्द का मूल रूप 'द्रमीड़दत्ति' या 'तिरमदत्ति' था जो द्रविड़ शब्द का रूपांतर है. इसी से कालांतर में, प्राकृत में प्रचलित नाम तामलित्ति बना जिसे संस्कृत में ताम्रलिप्ति कर लिया गया. (देखें: इंडियन एंटीक्वरी,1914, पृ.64)
दसकुमारचरित में दामलिप्त अथवा ताम्रलिप्त को सुह्य देश में स्थित माना है. किंतु महाभारत सभा पर्व 2,24-25 में ताम्रलिप्ति व सुह्य का अलग-अलग उल्लेख है-- 'समुद्रसेनं निर्जित्य चन्द्रसेनं च पार्थिवम्, ताम्रलिप्तं च राजानं कर्वटाधिपतिं तथा। सुह्मानाम अधिपं चैव ये च सागरवासिनः सर्वान मलेच्छ गणांश चैव विजिग्ये भरतर्षभः'
पांचवी शती ई. में फ़ाहयान ने ताम्रलीप्ति का गुप्त-साम्राज्य के एक महत्वपूर्ण बंदरगाह के रूप में उल्लेख किया है. यहां से जलयान जावा, सिंहल द्वीप इत्यादि देशों को जाते थे. दसकुमारचरित में दंडी ने ताम्रलिप्ति के काली मंदिर का वर्णन किया है जो उस समय प्रसिद्ध था. विष्णु पुराण 4,24,64 (कोशलान्ध्रपुंड्र ताम्रलिप्त समुद्रतटपुरीं देवरक्षितो रक्षिता') के अनुसार गुप्त काल से पूर्व देवरक्षित राजा राज्य करता था.
ताम्रलिप्ति में पाँचवीं सदी ईसा पूर्व से ही एक प्रसिद्ध महाविद्यालय स्थापित हो चुका था। फ़ाह्यान, युवानच्वांग, इत्सिंग आदि चीनी यात्रियों ने यहाँ ठहर कर भारतीय ज्ञान-विज्ञान का अध्ययन किया था। फ़ाह्यान के समय यहाँ 24 विहार थे, जिनमें दो सहस्त्र भिक्षु निवास करते थे।
सातवीं सदी में युवानच्वांग ने यहाँ केवल 10 विहार और एक सहस्त्र भिक्षुओं का ही उल्लेख किया है। तत्पश्चात् इत्सिंग ने अपने भारत यात्रा वृत्तांत में इस महाविद्यालय का सविस्तार वर्णन किया है। वह नौ वर्ष तक यहाँ अध्ययन करता रहा। उसने ताम्रलीप्ति-विद्यालय के बौद्ध भिक्षु राहुलमित्र की बड़ी प्रशंसा की है. ताम्रलिप्ति नगरी के समुद्र तट पर एक व्यापारिक बंदरगाह होने के कारण, यहां दूर-दूर देशों के विद्यार्थी सरलता से आ सकते थे.
ताम्रलिप्ति परिचय
ताम्रलिप्ति - यह प्राचीन बन्दरगाह नगर, भारत के पूर्वी समुद्र तट पर स्थित था। किंतु कालांतर में गंगा का मार्ग बदल जाने से समुद्र तट से दूर हो गया। वर्तमान में इस स्थान पर पश्चिम बंगाल के मिदनापुर ज़िले में रुपानारायन नदी एवं हुगली नदी के संगम से लगभग 19.3 किलोमीटर ऊपर तामलुक नगर स्थित है। कनिंघम ने भी ऐसा माना है। इसे प्राचीनकाल में ताम्रलिप्त, ताम्रलिप्तक, दामलिप्त आदि नामों से जाना जाता था। उस युग में इसकी प्रसिद्धि व्यापार, वाणिज्य, शिक्षा एवं बौद्ध धर्म के केन्द्र होने की वजह से थी। इतिहास
'दशकुमारचरित' से पता चलता है कि लंका, यूनान, जावा तथा चीन जाने वाले व्यापारी इसी बन्दरगाह से यात्राएँ करते थे। पाटलिपुत्र से तामलुक सड़क मार्ग द्वारा सीधा जुड़ा होने से इसका बड़ा महत्त्व था। 200 ई.पू. से 300 ई. तक के काल में इस बन्दरगाह ने भारत तथा दक्षिण-पूर्व एशिया के बीच सम्बन्धों को स्थापित करने की दिशा में महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका अदा की।
‘महावंश’ से यह ज्ञात होता है कि अशोक के धर्म प्रचारकों ने लंका के लिए इसी बन्दरगाह से प्रस्थान किया था। इस नगर की व्यापारिक महत्ता चीनी यात्री इत्सिंग के विवरणों के साथ-साथ भारतीय ग्रंथों में भी मिलती है। इत्सिंग लिखता है कि चीन तथा भारत का व्यापार इस पोताश्रय के माध्यम से किया जाता था। स्वयं इत्सिंग भी इस बन्दरगाह पर रुका था।
प्रसिद्ध चीनी यात्री फ़ाह्यान, जिसने 401 से 410 ई. के बीच भारत का भ्रमण किया था, यहीं से जलपोत पर सवार होकर स्वदेश वापस गया था।
ताम्रलिप्ति में पाँचवीं सदी ईसा पूर्व से ही एक प्रसिद्ध महाविद्यालय स्थापित हो चुका था। फ़ाह्यान, युवानच्वांग, इत्सिंग आदि चीनी यात्रियों ने यहाँ ठहर कर भारतीय ज्ञान-विज्ञान का अध्ययन किया था। फ़ाह्यान के समय यहाँ 24 विहार थे, जिनमें दो सहस्त्र भिक्षु निवास करते थे।
सातवीं सदी में युवानच्वांग ने यहाँ केवल 10 विहार और एक सहस्त्र भिक्षुओं का ही उल्लेख किया है। तत्पश्चात् इत्सिंग ने अपने भारत यात्रा वृत्तांत में इस महाविद्यालय का सविस्तार वर्णन किया है। वह नौ वर्ष तक यहाँ अध्ययन करता रहा।
1940 में पुरातत्त्व विभाग द्वारा तामलुक के प्राचीन स्थल पर उत्खनन कार्य किया गया। तामलुक में उपलब्ध नमूनों से कोई निश्चित तिथि बताना कठिन है, किंतु निश्यय ही ये मिस्र एवं भारतीय सम्बन्धों के साक्ष्य प्रस्तुत करते हैं।
तामलित्थिय
तामलित्थिय (AS, p.393): ताम्रलिप्त या ताम्रलिप्तक का पाली रूपांतर है जिसका उल्लेख दीपवंश 3,14 में है. [6]
In Mahavansa
Mahavansa/Chapter 11 tells...Devanampiya Tissa (307-267 BC) became king of Lanka after his father's death. Even at the time of his consecration many wonders came to pass. In the whole isle of Lanka treasures and jewels that had been buried deep rose up to the surface of the earth. ....King Devanampiya Tissa thought to send pearls to his friend King Dhammasoka. The king sent four persons appointed as his envoys: his nephew Maharittha, who was the chief of his ministers, then his chaplain, a minister and his treasurer, attended by a body of retainers, and he bade them take with them those priceless jewels, the three kinds of precious stones, and the three stems (like) waggon-poles, and a spiral shell winding to the right, and the eight kinds of pearls. When they had embarked at Jambukola and in seven days had reached the haven in safety, and from thence in seven days more had come to Pataliputta, they gave those gifts into the hands of king Dhammasoka. ....When the ministers had stayed five months, highly honoured they set forth with the envoys, on the first day of the bright half of the month Vesakha. Having embarked at Tamalitti and landed at Jambukola they sought out the king, when they arrived here on the twelfth day. The envoys handed the gifts (in return from Dhammasoka) to the ruler of Lanka; the ruler of Lanka made them welcome with great hospitality.
Bhima's Conquests
Bhima was sent out to the East, since Bhishma thought the easterners were skilled in fighting from the backs of elephants and in fighting with bare arms, he deemed Bhima to be the most ideal person to wage wars in that region. The Mahabharata mentions several kingdoms to the east of Indraprastha which were conquered by Bhima. According to Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 26 & Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 27 Bhimasena subjugated the countries including: Tamralipta (ताम्रलिप्त).
Visit by Fahian
James Legge[7] writes that Following the course of the Ganges, and descending eastwards for eighteen yojanas, he found on the southern bank the great kingdom of Champa,1 with topes reared at the places where Buddha walked in meditation by his vihara, and where he and the three Buddhas, his predecessors, sat. There were monks residing at them all. Continuing his journey east for nearly fifty yojanas, he came to the country of Tamalipti,2 (the capital of which is) a seaport. In the country there are twenty-two monasteries, at all of which there are monks residing. The Law of Buddha is also flourishing in it. Here Fa-hien stayed two years, writing out his Sutras,3 and drawing pictures of images.
After this he embarked in a large merchant-vessel, and went floating over the sea to the south-west. It was the beginning of winter, and the wind was favourable; and, after fourteen days, sailing day and night, they came to the country of Singhala.4 The people said that it was distant (from Tamalipti) about 700 yojanas.
The kingdom is on a large island, extending from east to west fifty yojanas, and from north to south thirty. Left and right from it there are as many as 100 small islands, distant from one another ten, twenty, or even 200 le; but all subject to the large island. Most of them produce pearls and precious stones of various kinds; there is one which produces the pure and brilliant pearl,5 — an island which would form a square of about ten le. The king employs men to watch and protect it, and requires three out of every ten such pearls, which the collectors find.
1 Probably the modern Champanagar, three miles west of Bhagalpur, lat. 25d 14s N., lon. 56d 55s E.
2 Then the principal emporium for the trade with Ceylon and China; the modern Tam-look, lat. 22d 17s N., lon. 88d 2s E.; near the mouth of the Hoogly.
3 Perhaps Ching {.} is used here for any portions of the Tripitaka which he had obtained.
4 “The Kingdom of the Lion,” Ceylon. Singhala was the name of a merchant adventurer from India, to whom the founding of the kingdom was ascribed. His father was named Singha, “the Lion,” which became the name of the country; — Singhala, or Singha-Kingdom, “the Country of the Lion.”
5 Called the mani pearl or bead. Mani is explained as meaning “free from stain,” “bright and growing purer.” It is a symbol of Buddha and of his Law. The most valuable rosaries are made of manis.
Visit by Xuanzang in 639 AD
Alexander Cunningham[8] writes that The kingdom of Tan-mo-li-ti, or Tamralipti, is described as 1400 or 1500 li, about 250 miles, in circuit.[9] It was situated on the seashore, and the surface of the country was low and wet. The capital was in a bay, and was accessible both by land and water. Tamralipti is the Sanskrit name of Tamluk, which is situated on a broad reach or bay of the Rupnarayan river, 12 miles above its junction with the Hughli. The district probably comprised the small but fertile tract of country lying to the westward of the Hughli river, from Bardwan and Kalna on the north to the banks of the Kosai river on the south.
From Tamalitti, the Pali form of the name, came the classical Tamalites.
In Mahabharata
Tamralipta (ताम्रलिप्त) in Mahabharata (I.177.12), (1.188), (II.27.22), (II.48.17),(VIII.17.2),(VIII.17.20),
Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 27 mentions the countries subjugated by Bhimasena. Tamralipta (ताम्रलिप्त) is mentioned in Mahabharata (II.27.22)[10]....And having vanquished Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and Tamralipta, and also the king of the Karvatas and the ruler of the Suhmas, as also the kings that dwelt on the sea-shore, that bull among the Bharatas then conquered all Mlechchha tribes.
References
- ↑ Tej Ram Sharma: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions/Place-Names and their Suffixes,p.261
- ↑ वङ्गाः कलिङ्ग पतयस ताम्रलिप्ताः सपुण्ड्रकाः । दुकूलं कौशिकं चैव पत्रॊर्णं परावरान अपि (II.48.17), पराच्याश च दाक्षिणात्याश च परवीरा गजयॊधिनः । अङ्गा वङ्गाश च पुण्ड्राश च मागधास ताम्रलिप्तकाः (VIII. 17.2)
- ↑ Sandhya Jain: Adi Deo Arya Devata - A Panoramic View of Tribal-Hindu Cultural Interface, Rupa & Co, 7/16, Ansari Road Daryaganj, New Delhi, 2004,p.217
- ↑ Tej Ram Sharma: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions/Place-Names and their Suffixes,p.261
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.396
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.393
- ↑ A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms, by Fa-hsien
- ↑ The Ancient Geography of India/Eastern India, p.505
- ↑ Julien 's 'Hiouen Thsang,' iii. 83.
- ↑ समुद्रसेनं निर्जित्य चन्द्रसेनं च पार्दिवम, ताम्रलिप्तं च राजानं (काचं वङ्गाधिपं ? = कर्वटाधिपतिं) तदा (II.27.22)