Correct Option
The correct option is (b) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Fa Xian (Faxian) was a Chinese Buddhist monk who travelled to India during the reign of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) of the Gupta dynasty. His primary objective was to visit Buddhist holy sites and collect authentic Buddhist scriptures (Vinaya Pitaka). His travelogue, Fo-Kwo-Ki (Record of Buddhist Kingdoms), is a vital source for reconstructing the history of the Gupta period.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: After spending several years in Pataliputra studying Sanskrit and copying texts, Fa Xian travelled to the port city of Tamralipti in Bengal. He stayed there for two years writing copies of sutras and drawing pictures of images. It was from Tamralipti that he boarded a large merchant ship to begin his return journey to China.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Fa Xian arrived in India via the land route through Central Asia (crossing the Gobi Desert, Khotan, and the Pamirs). However, for his return journey, he chose the sea route. He sailed from Bengal to Sri Lanka (Ceylon), then to Java, and finally reached China. This distinguishes his journey from that of Xuan Zang, who travelled back via the land route.
- Statement 3 is Correct: During his voyage from Sri Lanka to Java, the ship encountered a severe storm (typhoon). The merchants on board began throwing bulky goods overboard to lighten the vessel and prevent it from sinking. Fa Xian threw away his personal belongings, such as his pitcher and ewer, but he explicitly refused to throw away the Buddhist books and images he had collected, invoking Avalokitesvara for protection.
Key Takeaway: Fa Xian entered India through the land route (North-West) but returned via the sea route (from Tamralipti, Bengal). He visited during the reign of Chandragupta II.