Raw data
The site dates from around 520 AD when patronage by the Maitraka dynasty began. Royal patronage provided plenty of land and income. Xuanzang visited in 640 AD and found 100 monasteries and 6000 monks. it had an extensive library. A near-contemporary text recounts a Brahmin in the Ganges Valley sending his son to Valabhi for education. Apparently the site was ransacked and destroyed by Muslim invaders from Sindh in 788 AD and nothing is known of it after that date. The location is today called Vala in Gujarat. See Ahir, Buddhist Sites and shrines, p.p. 110-113.
Src: IN
Input by: SG February 27 2009
Valabhipur, India Page
Other names: Vallabhipur,Valabhīpur,Vala
World:India:State of Gujarat
Latitude 21.8833 Longitude 71.8667
http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Valabhipur.html
Final data (and their sources)
Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 20 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.
General location of the Vala monastic cluster, IN.
Lat 21.8800 Long 71.8660
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2009.
Google Map link:
Final data - explanatory notes
1. Monastery's name
- Vala monastic cluster
2. Monastery's modern country & province
- India:State of Gujarat
3. Monastery's alternative/historical names
final data ….
4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates
- Approx., arbitrarily estimated Lat 21.8800 Long 71.8660, based on Lat 21.8833 Long 71.8667 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Valabhipur.html
5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries
- Valabhi monastery
6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village
7. The settlement's alternative/historical names
- Vallabhipur - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Valabhipur.html
- Valabhīpur - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Valabhipur.html
- Vala - http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Valabhipur.html
8. The settlement's coordinates
- Exactly, Lat 21.8833 Long 71.8667 http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/9/Valabhipur.html
9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition
- Theravada
10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition
final data ….
11. Date-early
- 520 CE
12. Date-intermediate
- 640 CE when Xuanzang visited
13. Date-late
- 788 CE. Destroyed by Muslim invaders
14. Details of contacts with other monasteries
final data ….
15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery
- Archaeological, texts.
16. Additional notes
- In 7th century CE, 100 monasteries in cluster, 6,000 monks.
17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by
final data ….
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