Fa-Hien now visited the sacred places of Buddhism: ‘ Sankassa’ ( in Farrukhabad dist of UP), where Ashoka built a shrine and a pillar 60 feet high with a lion capital, with about 1000 monks & another 600-700 in a neighboring monastery.

At Sravasti, Fa- Hien arrived with his only companion Tao-Cheng. The monks asked Fa-Hien: ‘From what country do you come ‘ ? And when he replied ‘ From China’, the monks sighed and said: ‘Good indeed ! Is it possible that foreigners can come so far as this in search of the Faith?

‘Ever since the faith has been transmitted by us monks from generation to generation, no Chinese adherents of our doctrine have been known to arrive here.’

Fa-Hien saw at Sravasti, the famous Jetvana Vihara which he calls the ‘shrine of the Garden of Gold built by Suddata who spread out Gold money to buy the ground.’

He saw all ‘ those spots where men of later ages have set up marks of remembrance’.

Further Observations on India by Fa-Hien

‘In the country, there are 96 schools of non-Buddhists, each with its own disciples , who also beg their food , buy do not carry alm-bowls’.

‘They ( people) further seek salvation by building alongside out-of-the-way roads, Homes of Charity, where food, drinks and clothes are offered to travellers.’

This is a remarkable testimony to public philanthropy inspired by the spirit of social service, the religion ( Hinduism), which inculcated worship of God as embodied in humanity ‘ Nara Narayana’ & expressed itself in building ‘ Dharamsalas’ open to all without distinction of Caste and Creed , to all sects, & also to the Buddhists.

Fa-Hien found Kapilvastu in wilderness, but with many of its monuments still intact.’ On the roads,wild Elephants & Lions are to be feared.’ He also visited Lumbini and Vaishali & crossing the Ganges, came to Pataliputra, the Capital of Gupta Empire.

‘At Pataliputra formerly ruled by King Ashoka, the palace of the King is still intact, its various halls & gates built by spirits who piled up stones, after no human fashion.’

Up to Pataliputra, Fa-Hien was accompanied by his companion, Tao- Cheng. But now he too was to part from him.

Tao-Cheng was so much impressed by the ‘ shamans’ of India that he prayed that ‘ from this time forth until I become a Buddha, may I never live in another land.’

Tao- Cheng, therefore, remained in India & did not go back; but Fa- Hien’s object being to diffuse knowledge of the Discipline throughout the land of China, he ultimately went back alone.

Fa-Hien found at Pataliputra one Mahayana and another Hinyana monestary. The former had a teacher named Raivata ‘ a strikingly enlightened man of much wisdom , there being nothing which he did not understand.’

Fa-Hien had some interesting observations on Magadha: ‘ Of all the regions of India, this has the largest cities & towns. Its people are rich & thriving & emulate one another practising charity of heart and duty to one’s neighbour.’

Fa-Hien observes: ‘ The elders & gentry of the country have instituted in their capitals, free hospitals, where poor, crippled, destitute and helpless people come.’

‘They are well taken care of, a doctor attends them, food and medicine being supplied according to their needs. They all are made quiet comfortable, & when they are cured, they go away.’

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