DOCUMENTATION OF BUDDHIST CENTERS IN TAMIL NADU

Dr.D.Dayalan, Archaeological Survey of India

Buddhism came to South India during the period of Emperor Asoka (c. 273-236 BC). The rock edicts of him found in the bordering regions of South India invariably refer to the Buddhist dharma.  However, the prevalence of Buddhism in the Tamil country till 4th-5th century AD is not attested by any material evidences. The reason may be that consistent with pan-Indian usage, perishable materials like wood and brick had been used for the construction of secular as well as religious edifices of the early times.  However, the discovery of large number of stone objects and bronzes datable to 5th-6th century and onwards at various places all over Tamil Nadu indicate the wide prevalence of Buddhism in the Tamil country. It appears that Buddhism had a flourishing faith in some period and has been patronized by the local people and the merchants and perhaps the rulers as well.

On the basis of the clue from the inscriptions, accounts given in indigenous and foreign texts and place names, a host of scholars and others explored all over Tamil Nadu and plotted a large number of places yielding Buddhist relics through out the state. The outstanding excavations at Kaveripumpattinam (Lat.11012’50” N; Long. 790 52’ 50” E) by the Archaeological Survey of India had brought to light the remains of a Vihara of 4th -5th century and a Buddhist temple of 6th century or little later. Nagapattinam, another important Buddhist centre in Tamil Nadu appears to have been a centre of Buddhism for a long time. Hundreds of Buddhist bronzes were produced here right from 9th century AD to the 17th century.  The mass production of bronzes in Nagapattinam make this place an important centre Buddhist bronzes in India and large number of Buddhist bronzes were exported from here to various other Buddhist centres in the country. As a result of maritime contacts between South India and South-east Asian countries, there existed in Nagapattinam a colony of Buddhist and also Buddhist temple erected out of the subsidies granted by the Sailendra kings.  During the Chola period there exist at least a vihara and two temples known as Sudamani varma vihara, Rajaraja Perumballi and Rajendra Perumballi or Chola Perumballi. The Smaller Laden plates of Kulottunga Chola I record the gifts to both the Pallis. During the reign of Pallava king Narasimha varman-II (8th century), a Buddhist temple was constructed here under the request of the Chinese king for the sake of Chinese Buddhists who came to Nagapattinam from China for trade.

The present paper deals in detail about the documentation of the Buddhist vestiges such as excavated remains, sculptures and bronzes, inscriptions and paintings in Tamil Nadu, carried out by the author. The documentation includes-the detail of the location, nature, description, date and status of the relics, detail photography, preparation of location map of all the Buddhist sites, published References, etc.