NAV -VIHARA (NAV-BAHAR) OF BALKH AND THE BUDDHIST PRAMUKHS

                                          

( Avtar Mota with Dr Kashi Nath Pandita)

                                  ( Padamshri Dr. Kashi Nath Pandita ..Photo Avtar Mota ) 
                             

                                                                 ( Nav - Vihara )

NAV -VIHAARA (NAVBAHAAR) OF BALKH AND THE BUDDHIST PRAMUKHS


Dr.Kashi Nath Pandita, the noted Persian Scholar and historian told me:-

“ I have lived in Iran for about four years. I lived in Tajikistan also. Muhammad Osimi or Asimov as he was known in the then USSR, was a close friend. Apart from being a great human being, he was a philosopher, scientist, historian and Tajik Farsi and Persian scholar . He was the president of the Tajikistan Academy of Sciences. I have travelled to many places in Central Asia more particularly to the places of historical importance including Nav-Vihara of Balkh. Apart from Persian, I learned Tajik language and read many history books in Tajik Farsi that covered ancient and medieval periods of many Central Asian countries. These books gave a new dimension to my learning. The ancient Buddhist links of many Central Asian countries with India and Kashmir became more clear to me. The presence of some Buddhist Pramukhs or Parmukhs from Kashmir in Nav-Vihara ( a well known ancient Buddhist monastery ) of Balkh is a fact. These Parmukhs were polyglots, who, upon their capture were brought to Iraq by invading Arabs. The battle of Talas (751 AD ) fought between the forces of Abbasid Caliphate and the Chinese Tang dynasty for the control of Central Asia was the turning point in initiating the process of the conversion of the people of Central Asia to Islam. The Pramukhs of Nav-Vihara also converted to Islam during the Arab invasion. The services of these Parmukhs were utilized by Abbasid Caliphs for translation of many Sanskrit texts into Arabic. The Parmukhs were paid from the royal treasury by Abbasid Caliphate for this translation work.The Arabs called them Barmakhs or Barmikahs. They were also known as Barmakids or Barmecides..
The Barmakids were also known for their patronage of literature, philosophy, and science and for their tolerant attitude towards various religions and philosophies.

They were highly influential throughout Arabia, Persia, and Central Asia. Khalid Barmiki became the governor of upper Mesopotamia. Yahaya Barmiki became the governor of Armenia. Al Fadl Barmiki and Jaffar Barmiki occupied key positions during the rule of Harun al-Rashid.”

( Avtar Mota ) 

P.S.
Apart from Panchtantra, books on logic, astronomy, medicine, Brahmasiddhanta of Brahmagupta , Susrata Samhita and many more ancient texts in Sanskrit were translated into Arabic during the rule of Abbasids.

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