In Kalki’s epic novel, Ponniyin Selvan, which is about the the early life of 10th century Chola emperor Raja Raja Chola I, there are many references to Buddhism. In the second book, we get to see him in Sri Lanka restoring the Buddhist Viharas and getting impressed by the size of the statues of Buddha. Later when he gets caught in a cyclone and falls sick, he lives in hiding in the Buddhist Monastery of Nagappatinam in Tamil Nadu.
Recently the Archaeological Survey of India had found a 10th century Tamil inscription that mentioned the donation of land to build a Shiva temple in Kolapakkam, 20 km from Chennai. Deciphering the inscriptions, they found two Buddha statues in dhyana pose and some ornamental pillars.
S. Rajavelu, epigraphist, ASI, had recently found that the third inscription belonged to “Sri Vijaya Maharaja,” a king from Sumatra, and that it was issued in his eighth regnal year. The inscription mentions his donating 250 kuzhi (a measurement) of land to Agatheeswarar at Kolapakkam, which was in Perur nadu (country), a sub-division of Puliyur. Sri Vijaya was a contemporary of Raja Raja Chola and the palaeography of the inscription showed the script was similar to that of the period of Raja Raja Chola. Sri Vijaya had a cordial relationship with the Chola kingdom. Although the inscription mentioned Sri Vijaya’s donation to the temple, it indirectly indicated Buddhist activity nearby, because Sri Vijaya was a Buddhist.
Dr. Satyamurthy and Dr. Rajavelu explored the area and found the ruins of a Buddhist temple close to the Agatheeswarar temple. The two Buddha sculptures and ornamental pillars, in granite, were unearthed. The Buddha sculptures are three feet tall. One sculpture has a dharma chakra on either side of the Buddha. This was sculpted in the ancient region that is now Tamil Nadu. The other sculpture has a three-tiered umbrella above the Buddha’s head and women bearing fly-whisks.
According to Dr. Satyamurthy, the face of this Buddha has Mongoloid features and this sculpture shows South-East Asian influence. One of the ornamental pillars unearthed has a bas-relief of a human face, with a head-gear that shows South-East Asian influence. An image of Ganesa is carved on this pillar.
Kolapakkam perhaps was a centre of Buddhist activity. According to Dr. Rajavelu, this area coming under Tondaimandalam was noted for Buddhist activity about 1,000 years ago, prior to the Chola period. [Buddha statues unearthed near Chennai]
Update: It seems the statues are not that of Buddha, but of Jain thirthankaras
No, ASI ’s Suptg. Engr. Satyamurty has said that on further look at the second statue, though initially it seemed a 3 tiered umbrella Jaina statue (Trichakra dhari), it was discovered that it was a mongoloid influence Buddha.
So more proof on Indo-Sumatran art and mercantile give and take, folks! Why and how do we read Jainism here?
Kirti Pandey
Namaste.
Although most Jain statues portraying dhyana are in full-lotus posture, in Tamil Nadu, I find their almost all in half-lotus meditative form. Of all Buddhist scupture, statues depicting Lord Buddha from Sumatra and Java are the most nude. More likly are these statues to be Buddhist, especially since it’s improbable of a Jain Tirthankar to bear Mongoloid features. Jain and Buddhist art both imploy the triratna, shrivatsa, dhamma-chakra, and lion.
Srivijaya was not an individual ruler, but a prominent Inidianised kingdom incorporating areas of present day Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and (possibyly) the Philippines. Srivjaya’s cntrol of the Straits of Malacca made them the richest of the Southeast Asian states and a noted centre of Buddhist learning. While they did enjoy a cordial relationship with the Cholas for a time, its breakdown led to the only known example of naval warfare between ancient India and Southeast Asia. We don’t understand the reasons for the war.
Namaste,
Am Narasimhan eager to know about the buddhism and buddhic tradition and the address of buddhist temples here in chennai, I request you to help me in this regards and tell me address.
Thanking you
Regards
Narasimhan