SUMATRA Sumatra, Suvarnabhumi, the "Land of Gold," Yavadvipa of early Indian literature, received Indian colonists probably before the Christian era; in the 5th century Mahayana Buddhism was officially adopted as a result of a royal mission from Kashmir. I Ching passed by Palembang about 690 and found here a great centre of Sanskritic Buddhist learning. Before this time the great Malay kingdom of Srivijaya held for many centuries by the sail. endra dynasty had been established with the capital at Palembang, controlling thence the Malay Peninsula and probably Siam as far as Prapathom; this was the greatest maritime power in south eastern Asia (Madagascar had been colonised by Hinduised Ma lays early in the Christian era).
An inscription at Vial Srah in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula records the erection there of brick towers and stupas. That of Kota Kapur in Bangka speaks of a military expedition to Java, and in fact, from before the middle of the eighth century the whole of central Java was subject to the ailendras. The buildings there erected, however, will be discussed under Java (see below) ; in Sumatra proper the architectural remains are little known and not well preserved. (See SUMATRA.)