Wisdom, Compassion and Openness
A 16th Century TIbetan Buddhist Master, Taranatha mentions about Tamil Nadu’s Pakshitheertham’s Buddhist past in his book ‘History of Buddhism in India’. This place continued to have that association with birds till recently.
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Pondicherry has a few ancient Buddha statues from the 10th to 12th Century. Two of them are in Museum and one is worshipped in a temple in Ariyankuppam. Another is lost.
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Poompuhar was probably the earliest of the cities in the Dravida Land to have a Buddhist presence, right from the early Sangam period itself. Remains of a monastery and ancient Buddha statues were obtained from this place.
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Kanchi (Kanchipuram) in Tamil Nadu was the most significant Buddhist center of learning in South India. Kanchi produced world-renowned scholars and masters of Buddhism such as Bodhidharma, Dignaga, Dharmapala, Buddhaghosa, etc., spanning across Sravakayana and Mahayana. It is also one of the twenty-four power places of Vajrayana Buddhism.
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n exploration of history and archeological evidence of Buddhism in South India shows that Buddhism had been widespread in the South at least till the middle of the last millennium. While historical explorations dispel the attachment to misperceptions about heritage, we should also take care not to turn these new findings into another object of attachment and a cause for negative emotions.
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Paramabuddha (Padampa Sangye), an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha, taught Zhije & Chod in Tibet. his birthplace can be identified to be in Kerala, near Sabarimala hills. His connection with Ayyappa is also explored.
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The southern state of Karnataka has about ten edicts of Ashoka. Among those, Maski edict turned out to be of critical importance in archeologically discovering the history of India. This rock edict discovered by a gold-mining engineer contains a precious message that is worthier than gold.
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Many ancient Buddha statues, dating back to 7th Century CE onwards were discovered from various parts of Kerala. These Buddha statues smile to the world even today as the embodiment of peace, sublime thought, and the excellence of intellectual climate that prevailed in the region in the foregone eras.
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Rajaghatta in the outskirts of Bangalore,South India was a Buddhist settlement from 2nd century to 7th century CE. Archeologists unearthed the remains of a Mahayana Buddhist Chaitya hall and Vihara (Monastery) along with stupas, in this village.
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Sreemoolavasam Mahayana Monastery was one of the ancient Buddhist centers in South India (in South Kerala) and had a famous Avalokitesvara statue, with Tara and Bhrikuti on two sides. The then Ay King Vikamaditya Varaguna was a patron of this monastery.
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