Virincivatsa

A Tale of the Silk Road

By: Srikala Balakrishnan

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Virincivatsa, the brother of the philosophers, Asanga and Vasubandhu writes about his life. He describes the world of Gandhara as seen through a child's eyes. Then he grows up but does not wish to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious brothers, at least not yet. Nor does he want to imitate his father. Instead, he travels around as much of the known world as he can and follows his own dreams. The story is about how one man lives his own life, pursues his own ambitions and resists becoming the shadow of greater and more illustrious people around him. The tale is set in third century Gandhara which was part of the Kushana empire. Being at the centre of the trade routes gives Virincivatsa a chance to cross high mountain ranges through precipitious passes and see new lands on the oher side of the mountains. The Silk Road links Gandhara with the known world. And all along the brother of the philosphers becomes involved in the spread of the Buddhism which his brothers have so tried to develop. The story gives the perspective of the life and times of the third century A.D which also saw the spread of Mahayana Buddhism along the Silk Road to lands further east.