Buddha statue found in Tiruchy

Deccan Chronicle, Chennai 19-10-08

Buddha statue found in Tiruchy –

by IRSHAD AHMED

Oct. 18: A 72 cm high granite statue of the Buddha, dating back to the Chola period, has been discovered on the campus of an educational institute in Tiruchy.
Dr. B. Jambulingam, superintendent of Tamil University, Thanjavur, stumbled upon the statue during a field study at the Periyar Centenary Educational Complex at Kajamalai in Tiruchy. He was assisted by Periyar Primary School teacher K. Anbalagan. The statue was found when a canal was being dug on the campus of the educational complex.
The Buddha is in the dhyana posture, with the legs crossed in padma aasana style and the hands holding a dharma chakra resting on the lap
The Sanghati or the upper robe draped on the left shoulder extends to the navel. A tilak adorns the forehead. The statue has beautiful eyes, smiling lips, elongated ears and curly hair. It has broad chest and wide shoulders.
Dr. Jambulingam, who did his doctorate entitled ‘Buddhism in the Chola country,’ said that granite statues of the Buddha had been found in many places in Tiruchy, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Karur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, which were once part of the Chola country. He himself had dentified mre than 60 Buddha statues so far.
In Tiruchy district, Buddha statues were found in Ayiraveli, Ayilur, Keezhakurichi, Kuzhumani, Mangalam, Musiri, Pettavaithalai and Vellanur. The statues discovered in Kuzhumani, Musiri and Pettavaithalai are now exhibited at the Government Museum in Tiruchy. The statue found in Keezhakurichi is without the head. The Buddha statue found in Mangalam has a moustache.
The discovery of many Buddha statues in this region proved Buddhism was flourishing in the Chola country, Dr. Jambulingam said.