A Buddhist inscription was discovered in Kampung Sungai Mas of the Candi footprint no 32 in 2007 and was described as Sungai Mas II inscription. The inscription consists of the sloka verses belong to the Mahayana tradition of Madhyamika of Sagaramatiparrcha text. It is one of the three similar inscription that consist of the similar verses. The script is written in Pallava grantha script and dated around 6th century. Sungai Mas Footprint no 32 Inscription Row 1: balāni daśa catvāri ……. [vai?] Row 3: jānite ya imā ko(ţi) ………… There are only four row of verses being discovered in this location. The inscription discovered from the Candi Kampung Pendiat (Footprint no 2) consist of the similiar complete verses, in which six rows of verses were discovered. Candi Kampung Pendiat (Footprint no 2) Row 1: balāni daśa catvāri vaiśaradyāni yāni ca There was an early translation of these verses as published in 1940 of the archaeological research papers. However, with the latest translation of the Sagaramatiparrcha text from Tibetan Kangyur into English, below are the more precise of the expression of these verses. (6.21) (6.18) Meaning of the Verses The verses on row 3 and 4 were extracted from Sagaramatiparrcha chapter 6.17 of the text. Verses 5 and 6 were extracted from Sagaramatiparrcha chapter 6.18 of the text. This verse is also correlated to the writing of Nagarjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā that “Samsara and Nirvana are perceived as one single reality, In the state of ultimate awareness. To perceive the ultimate reality. I mark everything with the great seal of emptiness. This is the quintessence of non duality.” Conclusion The verses in this inscription reflected the essence teaching of Sunyata (Emptiness). Emptiness means non-origination – the non-arising in reality of all phenomena. We are grateful to master Nagarjuna in his treatise to explain the meaning of this profound non duality of all phenomenas that were found from the Sagaramatiparrcha text. This footprint located in this place must be an important spiritual center. It could be another candi (stupa) for empowerment or initiation of the new disciples. Or it could be a meditation center that receiving masters from overseas like India, China and ancient Java as a transit point due to its location that is close to the port. The verses are very profound and the person who initiated this inscription could be a highly trained master. Morever, this Sanskrit inscription maybe the only Sanskrit fragments that surv ived as the original Sanskrit texts were lost. These verses were from the chapter six of the sutra that explaining the Qualities of the Buddhahood. Why were these verses being inscripted? Chinese monk Yi Jing spend some time in old Kedah, probably he ever visited this Candi before. Dharmakirti Serlingpa compiled the commentary on Prajnaparamita 'Durbhaloka' under the support of Kataha king (old Kedah) in the 10th century. This area could be one of the important Buddhist spiritual center at that time with many learned masters. |
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