Forced Displacement of the Shakya Community: From Ancient Kapilavastu to Southeast Asia

Forced Displacement of the Shakya Community: From Ancient Kapilavastu to Southeast Asia

Abstract

This paper examines the hypothesis that the Shakya clan—into which Gautama Buddha was born—experienced forced displacement from Kapilavastu (present-day Nepal) following political annexation. It traces historical accounts of Shakya migration toward Myanmar and suggests possible links to early Southeast Asian populations, including elements in Malaysia. Drawing upon Buddhist scriptures, epigraphic evidence, classical texts, and modern research, this study contextualizes the movement within patterns of inter-Asian diaspora and religious networks.

1. Introduction

The Shakyas, a Kshatriya (warrior-class) lineage centered at Kapilavastu, gave rise to Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th–5th century BCE. Classical texts reveal that after Gautama’s enlightenment, the Shakya republic was annexed by Kosala under King Viṛudhakā or his predecessors. Surviving Shakyas are recorded to have migrated—some to the Kathmandu Valley, others toward present-day Myanmar—seeking refuge and preservation of their lineage.

2. Annihilation of the Shakya Polity

Buddhist and textual sources describe King Pasenadi of Kosala or his son Viṛudhakā invading Kapilavastu, massacring Shakya elites, and incorporating the republic into Kosala. This punctuated the end of Shakya political autonomy. Some survivors reportedly fled north into the hills or south into regions like Sankisa and the Kathmandu area.

3. Patterns of Displacement

3.1 Migration to the Kathmandu Valley

Epigraphic and Newar oral traditions indicate that Shakya refugees settled in Kathmandu, forming influential temple-building clans in Sankhu and beyond. These descendants preserved Buddhist practices and later contributed significantly to local Buddhist revival.

3.2 Migration to Myanmar

Traditional Burmese chronicles such as the Hmannan Yazawin trace a branch of Shakyas—via a figure named Abhiyaza—into present-day Myanmar, establishing links with early Burmese polities and the ruling Ikṣvāku lineage.

4. Hypotheses on Movement to Malaysia

While direct historical evidence of Shakya migration to Malaysia is sparse, several plausible contexts exist:

• Cultural and Religious Transmission: Shakya refugees and their Buddhist descendants integrated into Theravāda networks that spread from Bengal through Southeast Asia.
• Etymological Links: The term Shakya/Shaka resonates with Sāka, referring to Indo-Scythian migrations into India, symbolically adopted by later Southeast Asian migrants.
• Monastic Diaspora: Shakya monks and Buddhist lineages spread teachings through maritime trade routes, possibly reaching early Malaya as part of established Buddhist missions.

5. Comparative Ethno-Historical Insights

Newar Shakyas in Nepal and Chakmas in Bangladesh/Myanmar claim descent from the Buddha’s clan. Their preserved cultural and religious identities parallel the migration and diaspora patterns evident across South and Southeast Asia.

6. Discussion and Limitations

Despite intriguing parallels, the precise historical path from Nepal to Malaysia remains speculative. The absence of direct inscriptions or genetic studies limits certainty. However, circumstantial links via religious, epigraphic, and cultural traditions provide strong indications of possible connections.

7. Conclusion

The Shakya clan's forced displacement after Kosala’s annexation is well attested in Buddhist literature and historical tradition. While clear evidence for a presence in Malaysia is limited, religious and cultural transmissions offer circumstantial support. Interdisciplinary research—spanning archaeology, genetics, and epigraphy—will be vital to trace these connections further.

References

• Wikipedia: Shakya, Kapilavastu, The Buddha
• Shakya Mahabihar: Shakya community overview
• ResearchGate: Preliminary Study of Shakya Buddhists
• Buddhistdoor Global: Rediscovered Shakya Heritage
• ScienceTheory.net: Buddha's Political Lineage
• Muse: Shakya Shri Lineage in Southeast Asia

This post is part of an ongoing inquiry into transnational Buddhist migration and the persistence of sacred lineages across South and Southeast Asia.