சோழ நாட்டில் பௌத்தம்

After registering for research, among others, I started to search for a new Nagapattinam Buddha bronze in the study area. I attempted to find one such bronze since 1993. But only in 1999, I had the chance of seeing it. This is the second finding, the first one being the moustach Buddha.   Since 1856 more than 350 Buddha bronzes were unearthed, from Nagapattinam.  They are exhibited in many museums in India and abroad. During the field study carried out alongwith Mr Ayyampet Selvaraj, we found a new Nagapattinam Buddha bronze sculpture in Ayyampet, Thanjavur district. The family members who came from Nagapattinam and settled at Ayyampet worship the Buddha as Munisvaran, for the past three generations. It is of 9 cm height.  The left hand rests on the lap while the right hand is in bhumisparsa or earth-touching attitude. The face, body, and the upper garment are not clear. The iconographical feature of this image resembled one of the Nagapattinam Buddha bronzes exhibited ...