Buddhism First Spread to Afghanistan

It may interest you to know that the message of the Buddha was disseminated in Afghanistan within the lifetime of the Buddha Himself, very much earlier than in Sri Lanka or in any other country where it continues to flourish today. Many of the ancient monuments and sites in Afghanistan belong to the Buddhist tradition, the most significant were the world-renowned Bamyan Buddha statues, the largest in the world.The location of Afghanistan on the two routes which passed through the Tarim Basin from Balkh to the Chinese border, famous in the ancient trading world as the two “Silk Routes,” caused traders from all over the world to congregate here. In addition to introducing new trends and brands in trade, they also carried with them the news of epoch-making religious and cultural events. It was through two trading and touring brothers – Tapassu and Bhalluka – of Afghanistan, that Buddhism reached their homeland early.Brothers Tapassu and BhallukaThese two brothers, well known in Buddhism, were the two first lay devotees (upasakas) of the Buddha. In the seventh week after the attainment of Buddhahood, when the Buddha was enjoying the bliss of enlightenment, these two approached Him at the Rajayatana tree in Buddhagaya and offered the first alms to him. They took refuge in the Buddha and the Dhamma as by this time the Sangha had not arisen, and thus became the first two upasakas (dve vacika upasaka). At their request for an object of worship, the Buddha gave them eight handfuls of hair from His head according to the Anguttara Nikaya commentary.According to evidence in all the Buddhist writings which is uniform and identical, and also the writings of Hiuen Tsiang, both Tapassu and Bhalluka hailed from a merchant family of Afghanistan and they were named after two cities there, Bhalluka being the present day Bhalk. Acording to Hiuen Tsiang the two brothers erected stupas, each one 30 feet high, in both Tapassu and Bhalluka.On one of their trading tours Tapassu and Bhalluka are said to have come to Sri Lanka and built a Chetiya somewhere in Trincomalee enshrining the hair relics of the Buddha. An inscription dated 7^th. Century AD in Sri Lanka mentions the two names, while they also figure in sculptures found in several places in India: the South Gate of Sanchi, bas–reliefs at Taxila, Nagarjunikonda, Amaravati, etc., They are also carved out on a sculpture at Shotorak (Begram) in Afghanistan.The First Afghanistani Buddhist MonkThe Commentary on Anguttara Nikaya which tells of the Hair Relic being given by the Buddha to Tapassu and Bhalluka, further says that these two visited the Buddha again at Rajagaha and that Bhalluka joined the order of Bhikkhus. Later he seemed to have become an Arahant and the Thera-gatha (Psalms of the Elders) record some of his pithy sayings. Thus was Bhalluka the first Bhikkhu of Afghanistan. As a Bhikkhu personally ordain-ned by the Buddha Himself, when in Afghanistan He must have formed a group of devoted persons and disseminated Buddhism in His homeland.The First Buddhist MonasteryAfter returning to His homeland he must have lived in a vihara for which purpose he would have selected his home town of Bhalk. Significant writings about this monastery can be gleaned from the writings of Hiuen Tsiang who visited Bhalk circa 630AD. He noted that Bhalk was called ‘little Rajagaha’ probably because of all the proselitysation activities just as Rajagaha was in the Buddha’s time.At the time Hiuen Tsiang visited Bhalk, the original Vihara had perished after 900 years, and there was a new vihara called “Nava Vihara” which suggests that previously there had been an old one. Nava Vihara: A Center of LearningNava Vihara was a renowned centre of Theravada Buddhism which imparted theoretical knowledge of a high standard; perhaps there was no other Buddhist Monastery of this stature in the Buddhist world of that time. Nalanda Maha Vihara was renowned as a center of learning for eminent scholar Bhikkhus as well as novices. But Nava Vihara was the abode of only scholar monks – Masters of Buddhism who had composed at least one scholarly work. Learned Bhikkhus of Nava ViharaDuring his stay at Nava Vihara, Hiuen Tsiang met many scholars with whom he held philosophical discussions. He mentioned a monk of high proficiency called Pragnakara who had a sound knowledge of Tripitaka and also perfectly acquainted with Abhidhamma. Dharmapriya and Dharmakara were two other scholar Bhikkhus whose scholarship was honoured and applauded. Sanskrit, too, was taught here. Bhikkhus from all over, especially China, came to Nava Vihara to pursue higher studies in Buddhism.To the North-West of Nava Vihara was another monastery in Balkh. This was a meditation centre and Bhikkhus who had attained very high spiritual attainments resided here. Hiuen Tsiang says “The number of Bhikkhus who are presently engaged in practicing spirituality and who have attained some spiritual proficiency is more than a hundred. In this establishment there are 100 Bhikkhus. One cannot tell which is an Arahat or not.” The Cave Monastery of Samangan (Haibak)There is a unique stupa here hewn out of solid a rock. Near the stupa are five large caves, the largest of them has a single large lotus flower in full bloom carved out into the domed ceiling. Samangam seemed to have been an important centre for Buddhism as they have discovered two hundred-odd caves in a place now called Hazar-Sum.The First Missionaries in AfghanistanActual missionary work in Afghanistan took place about 100 years after the passing away of the Buddha when the first schism occurred at the Second Buddhist Council. The Mahasanghika Sect that broke away from the Theravada school, settled down in the south-eastern part of Afghanistan and organised missionary work. This sect subdivided itself into five groups and the group known as the Lokottaravadins made Bamyan their stronghold. Buddhism flourished here for centuries. Buddhist antiquities found scattered around Jelalabad, Hadda Sultanpur, Bimran, etc., all testify to this.Uncovering Buddhist Antiquities and RelicsJapanese Archeologists excavated 200 rock-cut caves dug for Buddhist Monks at a place called Baswal. One stupa in Afghanistan when opened up, had a relic casket containing some bone relics of the Buddha, with a Kharosthi inscription on the lid which read: “The relics of Gothama Samanera”. The date inscribed on it has been calculated as 20^th April 146AD. By Mrs. Sita Arunthavanathan.                                      Date: Thurs 28^th March, 2002