In search of imprints of Buddhism: Art Gallery, Thanjavur

After registering for M.Phil, (Buddhism in Tamil Nadu with special reference to Thanjavur district, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 1995) I started referring to the books on Buddhism. Later in order to understand the iconographical aspects of Buddha, I planned to visit the museums in the composite Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, India. I came to know, that in those days, in mid-1990s, Buddha statues were found in Art Gallery and Tamil University Museum.

Through my friends I came to know that I could get some important information about the Buddha statues if I meet former Curator of Art Gallery, Mr S.Rathnasabapathy before my visit to the Art Gallery. So, I went to his house. I introduced myself to him and about my work.

He told me that in his forthcoming books he discussed about the two granite Buddha statues (Stone Sculptures, Manuscript, 1983) and one Nagapattinam Buddha bronze sculpture (Divine Bronzes (Miscellaneous), Manuscript, 1983) exhibted in the Art Gallery and gave me the manuscript to take xerox copy and return it to him safely. I xeroxed them in a shop at East Main street and returned it to him.

With these information I met the Curator and introduced about my research. He told me that no written permission was necessary and asked me to acknowledge it in the thesis. After remitting Rs.5 I got the receipt for it. This was my first field study to museum. I saw there two granite Buddhas and one Nagapattinam Buddha bronze.

Pattisvaram Buddha

The first one was found with a note "Pattiswaram/14-15th century". It was found in a sitting dhyana posture.

Madagaram Buddha

The other one was found with a note "Madagaram/11th century". The two Buddhas looked like in same style. Madagaram Buddha had some latest ornamental features, which was not found suitable to the thousand year old statue.

Nagapattinam Buddha bronze

A 11th century Nagappattinam Buddha bronze was found in the locked show case. After photographing them,  I thanked the Curator and returned. The information culled out during this trip were included in my M.Phil., dissertation. The copies of the manuscript, pertaining to these Buddhas, were given in the annexure, with due acknowledgement.

During my subsequent field trips I saw so many Nagapattinam Buddha bronze sculptures in the Government Museum, Egmore, Chennai. These Buddha statues gave me some basic ideas to know about the iconographic aspects, which were very useful during my next trips.

While carryig out my Ph.D. thesis (Chola Nattil Bautham [Buddhism in Chola Nadu], Tamil University, Thanjavur, 1995), the project (Buddhism in the Cola country, Nehru Trust for the Indian Collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum, New Delhi, 2002) and my book work I went to Art Gallery many times and also photographed them, latest of which are included my books.

2023

These Buddhas are documented in the Tamil (Chola Nattil Bautham [Buddhism in Chola Nadu], Pudhu Ezuthu, 2023, pp.96, 120, 30), and English (Buddhism in Chola Nadu, Pudhu Ezuthu, 2023, pp.121, 99, 40) editions of my book.

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Thanks: Former Curator Mr S.Rathnasabapathy, and Cutator/Art Gallery

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தமிழில் வாசிக்க: பௌத்த சுவட்டைத் தேடி: கலைக்கூடம், தஞ்சாவூர்

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