Indian perspectives on Suvarnabhumi

Abstract

The concept of “Suvarnabhumi” (the Golden Land) is more than just a land name; it is also a cultural symbol reflecting the worldview of past peoples. It appears in Buddhist scriptures and ancient records as a “world gateway” between India and Southeast Asia. While no specific city was identified as the center of Suvarnabhumi, there are two contextual assumptions: 1. A trading center, including U Thong, Chaiya and the Malay Peninsula; and 2. A Buddhist center, including ancient Nakhon Pathom, evidenced by the Dharmachakra and Phra Pathom Chedi, which date back to the time of King Ashoka the Great, and Thaton in lower Burma.

Indian scriptures interpret Suvarnabhumi in two ways: 1. A land of wealth: a source of gold and produce, a destination for merchants (Sangkha Jataka) and 2. A land of risk: a dangerous shipping route requiring skill and merit for survival (Mahajanaka Jataka and Suparaka Jataka). Suvarnabhumi thus symbolizes hope and prosperity, driving economic and cultural exchange. Buddhism is the core of the region's history and identity.