May 1, 2010

BOTH THE NEPALESE AND INDIAN GOVERNMENTS SHOULD FORM A TEAM OF EXPERTS FOR FURTHER EXACAVATION AND EXAMINATION OF KAPILVASTU

Posted by The Himalayan Voice:
[We disagree with you that there can’t be any other translations of the pilgrims works saying that ‘we have enough’ of them. This is negation of new thinking and new approach. This is a totally wrong belief. ( Gotihawa Pillar Photo)]


By B. K. Rana

Concerning your statement below on the Ashokan inscription and Sakyamuni, we shall write here again - we sincerely differ from what you have posted in your statement. Whoever might have made the declaration that Sakyamuni has no place in Ashokan inscription – has made a wrong declaration. This is not an academic declaration or exercise. We would like to debate the ‘wretched Padaria’ inscription you have discussed earlier and would write  further bring it on.

Also we have already stated that the pilgrims distance measurements are not flawless. There are discrepancies. The magnet was discovered in China in 1st or 2nd century but it is unclear whether the Chinese pilgrims might have been able to use any compasses or other relatively reliable instruments for distance measurements and direction of the places they visited.

We disagree with you that there can’t be any other translations of the pilgrims works saying that ‘we have enough’ of them. This is negation of new thinking and new approach. This is a totally wrong belief.

But we partially do agree with you that “it is still true to say of Tilaurakot that not a single instance of a movable Buddhist artefact has yet been found at what is alleged to be the site of the Buddha’s native town (and a leading former place of Buddhist pilgrimage therefore)”. And it is also not necessary to have movable artifacts to ascertain something of its authenticity.

Therefore more re-excavation or excavation works are required in and around both Tilaurakot and also Piprahawa-Ganwaria sites. Both the Nepalese and Indian governments should form a team of experts to work on it. The concerned international communities should also come forward and support the cause.


The Himalayan Voice 
Cambridge, Massachusetts
United States of America
http://thehimalayanvoice.blogspot.com/
 
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Terence Phelps 
Date: Wed, Apr 28, 2010 at 7:06 AM
Subject: RE: REEXCAVATIONS IN AND AROUND TILAURAKOT, PIPRAHAWA AND GANWARIA REQUIRED
To: himalayanvoice@gmail.com

My statements came from a declaration – given to me by a leading epigraphist – that Sakyamuni has no place in an Asokan inscription, for the reasons - supported by the epigrapical evidence - which I have given. 


And as all car-owners will attest, not only are some mechanics more authoritative than others, they can also have widely differing notions of where the fault lies.

As for Faxian, we already have quite enough translations of his work to know that he placed Kapilavastu (and Lumbini) between 80-90 miles south-east of Sravasti, whereas Tilaurakot is around 60 miles (Smith says 55) east-north-east, bearings which simply cannot be reconciled. 


And that Xuanzang said precisely the same also. And I believe that it is still true to say of Tilaurakot that not a single instance of a movable Buddhist artefact has yet been found at what is alleged to be the site of the Buddha’s native town (and a leading former place of Buddhist pilgrimage therefore). If so, then that is plainly absurd.

Terry Phelps  

 

Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2010 -0400
Subject: REEXCAVATIONS IN AND AROUND TILAURAKOT, PIPRAHAWA AND GANWARIA REQUIRED
From: himalayanvoice@gmail.com
To: DeegM1@cardiff.ac.uk; taphelken@hotmail.com
CC: charles.allen@tiscali.co.uk; A.Schmidt@bradford.ac.uk
April 27, 2010

REEXCAVATIONS IN AND AROUND TILAURAKOT, PIPRAHAWA AND GANWARIA REQUIRED
[Bellow follow two comments today on Kapilvastu and Lumbini inscription: one from Terence Phelps, a researcher and another from Prof. Max Deeg. We very much appreciate their comments to continue this debate in a meaningful way forward. Thank you]
_______________________
The Himalayan Voice
Cambridge, Massachusetts
United States of America
 http://thehimalayanvoice.blogspot.com/