Singhala Dvipa, 570 AD.
"A fine ship, isn't it?" a crackling voice broke Ardavaz's thoughts.
"A fine ship, isn't it?" a crackling voice broke Ardavaz's thoughts.
Ardavaz turned around. It was an old sailor.
“Oh!” responded Ardavaz. “Certainly is. It's big … and powerful … and elegant."
"The handiwork of shipbuilders of the land of Langkasuka. It was put together without the use of a single nail. Obviously, the shipbuilders over there are much more skilful than the ones we have here in Singhala Dvipa."
"And the ones we have back home in my country too. Somehow, its style and shape reminds one of a brave warrior.”
“That's just appropriate. Because the man who's going to sail it is indeed a brave warrior."
“And who might he be, if I may?”
“He is Buddha Gupta. Prince Buddha Gupta. They call him Maha Navika, the Great Mariner. He came from a place called Rajbadi Danga, in Karna Suvarna, seat of the kingdom of Gauda, in the land of Bhangala.”
“Oh? Is he going back to Bhangala?”
“No. I hear he's going out for a big adventure. He wants to sail over the big blue oceans, to the islands far out in the east, where folks farm plants whose fruits and flowers sell for as much as gold."
"That must be a most blessed place," Ardavaz listened earnestly.
It is. He wants to sail really far this time. To Suvarna Bhumi, the Golden Continent, and Suvarna Dvipa, the Golden Islands. He wants to leave his past behind, begin another life anew, in another place."
"That must be a most blessed place," Ardavaz listened earnestly.
It is. He wants to sail really far this time. To Suvarna Bhumi, the Golden Continent, and Suvarna Dvipa, the Golden Islands. He wants to leave his past behind, begin another life anew, in another place."
“But then, isn't Suvarna Dvipa the moniker for this island?”
“That is true. But the fact is, there are still a few other Suvarna Dvipa, a few other Islands of Gold, besides this one, lying far yonder in the east."
“I see. Would he be requiring any shipmen, by any chance? I would love to sail away with him.”
“Lord prince!” the old sailor turned around. "I'm sorry, Lord. I did not notice you approaching. I was deep in conversation with my new friend here."
"Young man," the old man turned again to the young adventurer he had just met. "let me introduce to you, Prince Buddha Gupta, the man whom we were talking about just now."
“Lord prince,” Ardavaz bowed his head slightly toward Buddha Gupta. "I'm pleased to meet you."
"Me too."
"I'm sorry I did not recognise you. I'm rather new around these parts."
"That's all right," Buddha Gupta responded. "You look to me like ... a Persian."
"You're right. I am."
“You also have that bearing. Like a nobleman. You're a prince yourself, aren't you?"
“I, err ...”
“Of course you are. I should have known. Your name?”
“Ardavaz. And I'm also called … Sudakh Shina. Just a nickname. Only among family and friends."
“That's an illustrious name. You're from the line of Sudakh Shina? The great Sudakh Shina of ancient legend?"
“According to my grandfather, that would be the case. But then Sudakh Shina lived more than two thousand years ago. If he had offspring then, so many would indeed have sprung form his seed by now. You know about him?"
“Of course. Sudakh Shina Kambhoja Raja. Bravest prince and general of the Kambhoja. He had beaten Arjuna, prince of the Pandava, and made him swoon at the Battle of Kuru Kshetra, only to be shot from the back by Arjuna, with his divine bow Gandhiva. At least that was the version of the story I knew."
“I hear that you're a proficient sailor. And that they call you Maha Navika, the Great Mariner.”
§
“Their kings look like the kings in Singhala Dvipa?"
“He wears silk over his whole body. On his head, he wears a crown of gold, shaped like a stupa, almost a cubit in height, inlaid with precious stones of nine varieties. he carries a sword engraved with gold, sits on a throne of gold, with his feet resting on a stool of silver."
"He sounds like someone of great elegance."
"Not bad. His court maidens are decorated with flowers of gold and other expensive accessories. Some of them carry a duster of white bird feathers, or a fan made from peacock feathers."
"This Langkasuka, where is it located, if I may?" asked Ardavaz.
"About due east from this Singhala Dvipa," answered Buddha Gupta. "So if we sail with the northeast monsoon, touch wood for fair winds, we'll reach the western port of Langkasuka, in the land of Kedah Negara, after about one and a half months of sailing."
“In this Langkasuka, what is life like?"
"The climate is mostly hot, except during the rainy season. But then it still rains often, even during the hot season. It's almost the same as in this island."
"About due east from this Singhala Dvipa," answered Buddha Gupta. "So if we sail with the northeast monsoon, touch wood for fair winds, we'll reach the western port of Langkasuka, in the land of Kedah Negara, after about one and a half months of sailing."
“In this Langkasuka, what is life like?"
"The climate is mostly hot, except during the rainy season. But then it still rains often, even during the hot season. It's almost the same as in this island."
“What about the people's dress?"
“They wear cotton clothing, mostly. When the weather gets too hot, they just go around without a shirt, with only a sarong wrapped around their lower body."
"And who do they worship?"
"The kings and aristocrats among them have taken to the teachings of Brahma and the Veda, and they worship Vishnu or Shiva, mixed also with the teachings of Gautama. But the common people still mostly keep to the ways of their ancestors, believing in and worshipping the spirits of nature."
"And who do they worship?"
"The kings and aristocrats among them have taken to the teachings of Brahma and the Veda, and they worship Vishnu or Shiva, mixed also with the teachings of Gautama. But the common people still mostly keep to the ways of their ancestors, believing in and worshipping the spirits of nature."
“Their kings look like the kings in Singhala Dvipa?"
“He wears silk over his whole body. On his head, he wears a crown of gold, shaped like a stupa, almost a cubit in height, inlaid with precious stones of nine varieties. he carries a sword engraved with gold, sits on a throne of gold, with his feet resting on a stool of silver."
"He sounds like someone of great elegance."
"Not bad. His court maidens are decorated with flowers of gold and other expensive accessories. Some of them carry a duster of white bird feathers, or a fan made from peacock feathers."
§
Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz finally landed at the mouth of a river, upstream of which stood an imposing mountain, a happy landmark for every sailor approaching from the distance. The river was named Merbuk, the mountain was called Jerai, while the kingdom was known as Kedah Negara.
They stopped by the place for a while, then continued by land across to the eastern coast, to another kingdom named Patani Seri Negara. The two kingdoms were allied kingdoms, federated into a larger realm called Langkasuka Adhi Negara. The two kings took turns to reign as high king of the combined federation.
The arrival of Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz in Patani Seri Negara was well received by its king, Bhaga Datta, progeny of an ancient king named Rama Unibha. It so happened that Bhaga Datta was also then reigning in his turn as high king of Langkasuka Adhi Negara.
The dynamism of the two men did not escape Bhaga Datta's keen observation. He proposed to them to continue their journey, this time southward, to a land just beyond the fringe of his kingdom, with a view to establishing a new kingdom if a suitable site for it was found. A ship was given to them specifically for that purpose, fully staffed by able seamen and properly fitted, all courtesy of Bhaga Datta.
Their destiny thus unfolded, Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz eventually landed by another rivermouth, at a place named Kuala Besar, near a port town called Tumpat. They sailed further upriver until they reached a place named Bukit Panau, about seven prasanga distance from the rievrmouth.
To cut a long story short, Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz were both taken in by a local chieftain named Awang into his home. Awang was called the Black Panther by his loyal followers for his fierce demeanour as well as his penchant for black clothing. It so happened that at the time the area encompassing the entire river valley all the way to the river mouth and the nearby coast had become infested with robbers, brigands and pirates.
Awang had once served as a general with the army of Patani Seri Negara during the time of Bhaga Datta's father. He had subsequently become a close friend of Bhaga Datta, and eventually married a cousin of Bhaga Datta.
As fate would have it several years later, Buddha Gupta found love and marriage with Mawar Sekembang Murni (Pristine Rose), the general's eldest daughter. Another nine years on, it was the same story all over again, this time it was Ardavaz and Anggerik Semarak Ayu (Beautiful Orchid), younger sister of Mawar.
The two adventurers helped their father in law build a new kingdom centred at Bukit Panau. The kingdom grew, thrived and prospered, especially after Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz together managed to crush the packs of robbers, brigands and pirates marauding over the land and the seas.
With the blessing of Chieftain Awang, his followers and all the people, Buddha Gupta was duly installed the king of the new kingdom. It was named Raktam Rttika, Red Earth, by Buddha Gupta, in remembrance of the great vihara in his hometown of Karna Suvarna, in Bhangala. The Chinese travellers and merchants who passed by the kingdom in later years then took to calling it Chi Tu.
Noting the bravery and prowess of Ardavaz as a warrior, King Buddha Gupta immediately appointed his brother in law and long time close friend as chief commander of the army. The two maintained their close friendship and cordial relations with King Bhaga Datta, and a while later the Red Earth kingdom was admitted into the Federation of Langkasuka Adhi Negara as its the newest member kingdom.
They stopped by the place for a while, then continued by land across to the eastern coast, to another kingdom named Patani Seri Negara. The two kingdoms were allied kingdoms, federated into a larger realm called Langkasuka Adhi Negara. The two kings took turns to reign as high king of the combined federation.
The arrival of Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz in Patani Seri Negara was well received by its king, Bhaga Datta, progeny of an ancient king named Rama Unibha. It so happened that Bhaga Datta was also then reigning in his turn as high king of Langkasuka Adhi Negara.
The dynamism of the two men did not escape Bhaga Datta's keen observation. He proposed to them to continue their journey, this time southward, to a land just beyond the fringe of his kingdom, with a view to establishing a new kingdom if a suitable site for it was found. A ship was given to them specifically for that purpose, fully staffed by able seamen and properly fitted, all courtesy of Bhaga Datta.
Their destiny thus unfolded, Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz eventually landed by another rivermouth, at a place named Kuala Besar, near a port town called Tumpat. They sailed further upriver until they reached a place named Bukit Panau, about seven prasanga distance from the rievrmouth.
To cut a long story short, Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz were both taken in by a local chieftain named Awang into his home. Awang was called the Black Panther by his loyal followers for his fierce demeanour as well as his penchant for black clothing. It so happened that at the time the area encompassing the entire river valley all the way to the river mouth and the nearby coast had become infested with robbers, brigands and pirates.
The two adventurers helped their father in law build a new kingdom centred at Bukit Panau. The kingdom grew, thrived and prospered, especially after Buddha Gupta and Ardavaz together managed to crush the packs of robbers, brigands and pirates marauding over the land and the seas.
Noting the bravery and prowess of Ardavaz as a warrior, King Buddha Gupta immediately appointed his brother in law and long time close friend as chief commander of the army. The two maintained their close friendship and cordial relations with King Bhaga Datta, and a while later the Red Earth kingdom was admitted into the Federation of Langkasuka Adhi Negara as its the newest member kingdom.
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