Vala monastic cluster, (near) Valabhipur, Gujarat, IN

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)

Last updated: 30 Jul 2014

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.

Location of Vala monastic cluster, IN.

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:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=21.8800+71.8660+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Vala%20monastic%20cluster,%20IN)&ll=21.8800,71.8660&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


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

  • [missing data]

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates


5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names


8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Theravada

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • 520 CE

MBM chrono-tag: 0500-32c - tmciolek 30 Jul 2014
0500-32c 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c dated-el


12. Date-intermediate

  • 640 CE when Xuanzang visited

13. Date-late

  • 788 CE. Destroyed by Muslim invaders

MBM chrono-tag: 0767-99c - tmciolek 30 Jul 2014


14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing 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

  • [missing data]

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