Buddha sculpture from 11th Century found in Ariyalur

CHENNAI: A ruined granite Buddha sculpture dating to 11th Century AD was found among two Lord Vinayaka idols under a peepal tree in Pallipalayam, a remote village in Ariyalur district. A team led by Buddhist expert B Jambulingam identified the sculpture which was unearthed during the construction of the nearby Pandyan lake 15 years ago.

No one, however, knew the importance of it and it eventually became part of the Hindu style of worship.

It was during a field trip with heritage experts M Selvapandian and G Ravikumar that Jambulingam noticed the ruined sculpture. The sculpture, according to Jambulingam, is the most ruined of the more than 65 Buddha sculptures he has discovered during his field studies since 1980s. “The sculpture depicts Buddha with curly hair with flame over the head, half-closed eyes, clothes over the chest, elongated ears and a broad chest. The right hand, part of left hand, the part below the hip are broken and the flame, nose and lips damaged,” Jambulingam said.

Buddha statues in meditative posture have been found in places like Ariyalur, Jayamkondam, Kizhakolatthur, Kuzhumur, Suttamalli, Muthuservaimadam, Peria Tirukkonam, Rayampuram and Vikaramangalam. “This Buddha resembles the ones found in these places. It has the iconographical aspects of the granite Buddhas found in the Chola country, comprising composite Trichy, composite Thanjavur and Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu. It shows that Buddhism might have been popular in the Chola country centuries ago,” he said.

Experts say Buddhism came to today’s Tamil Nadu during the 3rd century BC and was practised in the Chola country up to 16th century AD. Buddha ‘viharas’ were found in many places including Poompuhar and Nagapattinam. The remnant of a ‘vihara’ is still intact in Poompuhar. “I am happy that the sculpture is under worship with the Vinayaka idols. But at the same time, this ancient piece of art deserves a better place. A detailed study will also help us understand the popularity of Buddhism in the region,” Jambulingam said.