Buddhas..! Buddhas…!!, in Sri Kachabeswarar Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Buddha bas-reliefs at Sri Kachabeswarar Temple at Kanchipuram was a part of Shiva and Vishnu Temples, Sculptures like Kotravai, Jyeshta Devi at Purisai, Kilkolathur, Salukkai and Anumanthandalam on 2^nd January 2022. It was planned to meet at this temple as a First Heritage walk of the new year 2022. Thanks to தொண்டை மண்டலம் வரலாற்று ஆய்வு சங்கம்.

Rajagopuram inner side 

It is believed that the Buddha statues & Buddhist sculptures unearthed in and around Kanchipuram belong to the 6^th to 7^th Century, during that period Buddhism was at a peak in Tamil Nadu. But as per the experts the Buddha statues unearthed at CM Subbaraya Mudaliar School, Karukkinil Amarthal Temple, Kanchipuram Police Station, Pallur, belong to the 9^th to 11^th Century. This indicates that, even though it is claimed that Buddhism declined due to the rise of the Bhakti movement through, Sundarar, Thirugnanasambandar and Thirunavukkarasu Swamigal, Buddhism was patronized by the Chozha and Pandya Kings, till 14^th Century. As per the History, most of the temples were closed without poojas during the Sultan’s and Muslims Rule. After Vijayanagaras came to power the temple activities were revived once again, with the construction of Mandapams joining the  existing sanctum sanctorum, some of the temples being rebuilt completely, construction of Raya Gopurams / Raja Gopurams. As per the experts, the Buddhism-related bas-reliefs found in the Temples Mandapam pillars and Rajagopuram are due to the freedom given to the sculptors and not that they were brought from the dilapidated or destroyed the Buddhist temples.

In the above context, some bas-reliefs are found in Sri Kachabeswarar Temple Mukha mandapam pillars and Rajagopuram prastram Nasi kudus. In the bas-reliefs, Buddha is shown in meditation posture, except one. In that Buddha is shown in Bhoomi sparsa hastam.

Rajagopuram front side on the left

On Mandapa Pillar

On Mandapam Pillar

On Mandapam Pillar

Kachabeswarar Shiva Temple

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---