Author: K C Khanna
Belinder Dhanoa/Harinder Dhanoa
Publisher: National Book Trust
Year: 1997/2000
Language: English
Pages: 128
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8123701705
Description
This pack includes 2 books for children: (1) As They Saw India and (2) Hsuan-Tsang's Journey to India. Both illustrated, these books recount early travels to India as narrated by Megasthenes, Fa-Hien, Hsuan Tsang and Alberuni.
BOOK ONE:
What do other people think of us? This question is always intriguing. So we read with avid absorption the accounts of people who came to our country many thousands of years ago and compare them with what people say about us today. These travelers' tales are also of interest for another reason. They are the most descriptive source for the reconstruction of ancient Indian history. This book deals with four travelers who came to India at different times. The circumstances and reasons for their visit greatly influenced their writing.
BOOK TWO: Hsuan-Tsang’s Journey To India
Hsuan-Tsang was one of a succession of Chinese travelers who came to India in search of Buddhist wisdom. He was dissatisfied with the available translations of the sacred books and, at the age of twenty-eight, decided to procure the texts in the original and have the finer points of Buddhist doctrine explained and clarified to him by learned Indian scholars. Hsuan-Tsang also wanted to visit the holy land and see the sites where various events in the Buddha’s life occurred.
Hsuan-Tsang has to brave many dangers and overcome many obstacles to fulfill his ambition. Journeying across vast stretches of desolate desert, and crossing forbidding icy mountains, he finally reached India after numerous adventures.
Hsuan-Tsang stayed in India for thirteen years and the descriptions he has left of the places he saw and their inhabitants give us a valuable insight into the India of those days.
This is a record of Hsuan-Tsang’s travels and stay based on his writing.
Contents
Book 1: As They Saw India
Megasthenes and India
Fa-Hien In India
India In Hiuen Tsang’s Time
Alberuni’s India
Book 2: Hsuan-Tsang’s Journey To India
CHAPTER I: The Journey Begins
CHAPTER II: A Difficult Task
CHAPTER III: Captivity
CHAPTER IV: Bandits
CHAPTER V: Over the Badel Pass
CHAPTER VI: A Pilgrim’s Reward
CHAPTER VII: A Seat of Learning
CHAPTER VIII: The Great Alms Giving
Epilogue