In search of imprints of Buddhism: Valangaiman

During my recent field trip I went to the Historical Museum of Rajendrachola, Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district, Tamil Nadu to see the Buddhas exhibited there which I saw during my earlier field study. 

This article is to confirm whether the Buddha exhibited in the showcase belonged to Valangaimanpputtur or Gangaikondacholapuram.

   

Valangaimanputtur Buddha

In the museum, three Buddhas were found. Of them, the one found in the showcase, had a note informing that it belonged to Valangaimanputtur. Based on this, I recorded it in my Ph.D. thesis with relevant source, as under: 

"Buddha : From Valangaimanputtur, Thanjavur district. It is in padmasana dhyana posture. It belongs to 10th century. This statue proves the existence of a Buddha temple in Valangaiman area and the prevalence of Buddhism in those days. It is of 27 cm height and 15 cm width."  (Buddhar silai [Buddha statue] Rajendracholan akazhvaipppakam [Historical Museum of Rajendrachola], Chandramurti, M. et al.,  Natana. Kasinathan (Ed.), Tamil Nadu Government State Archaeology Department, Madras, 1993, p.46).

Gangaikondacholapuram Buddha

In the photo archives of the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP), below the photograph of this Buddha, the name of the place is mentioned as Gangaikondacholapuram. 

In the above book it has been recorded as it was from Valangaimanputtur. In the archives of IFP and in the note found near the Buddha it has been mentioned as Gangaikondacholapuram. In this connection I wrote a letter to the Curator of the Museum, requesting for clarification.  

The Curator, in his letter of 21.9.2019, informed that it belonged to Valangaimanputtur, and I thanked him.  

During my subsequent field trips to Valangaiman area, I came to understand that there was no place in the name of Valangaimanputtur and Valangaiman might have been referred to in that name. So, let us call this as Valangaiman Buddha. The above photograph was taken by me during my first field trip to the museum in 1999.

2023

This Buddha is documented in the Tamil and English editions of my book (Chola Nattil Bautham,  Pudhu Ezuthu, 2022, p.137), (Buddhism in Chola Nadu,  Pudhu Ezuthu, 2023, p.166).

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தமிழில் வாசிக்க : பௌத்த சுவட்டைத் தேடி : வலங்கைமான்

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