The Remains of Buddhism, in Triplicane area Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

During our Heritage Visit in Mylapore and Triplicane areas, we came across this Buddhist sculpture. This Buddhist sculpture was recorded in Avanam, Volume 7 by R Vasanthakalyani, from Chennai. This Buddhist sculpture was affixed on the wall, inside the Triplicane Ellai Amman Temple, Office Room. ( Now used to keep the pooja articles and vasthra store room ).

The sculpture measures about 1.5 feet tall and 9 inches width. In the panel 6 men are in standing posture in anjali hastam. They all wears thick head gear and padra kundalam in the elongated earlobes. They also wears dress below the waist. This Panel was made of  lime stones which is commonly available in Palnadu District of Andhra Pradesh, Close to Amaravathi.

There are similar sculpture panels on display at Madras Museum, which are brought from Amaravathi Buddhist site. Hence, the experts are of the opinion that this sculpture may be one of the panels available in Madras Museum. This panel may belongs to 2^nd Century CE.

LOCATION OF THE SCULPTURE   : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA --- 

Buddhas images of Madras Museum, Egmore, Chennai, Tamil nadu.

These Buddha images are the collections of Madras Museum from various places. Details will be written in due course

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Buddhar Temple, Peruncheri, Mayiladuthurai District, Tamil Nadu.

The Visit to this Buddha Temple at Peruncheri was a part of Shiva and Maha Vishnu Temples around Sirkazhi Visit on 1^st & 2^nd July 2023. The Buddha Temple is on the way to Sri Vakiswarar Shiva temple. The temple is facing North.

The Buddha is in dhyana posture with eyes half closed. Buddha is with elongated earlobes, a thilak on the forehead, curled hairs on the head, ushnisa on the top of the head, a smiling face, broad chest, dress fold on the left shoulder, dress on the hip and dharma chakra on the palms. An inscription seems to be recent period is on the peedam, which is not clear. This Buddha may belongs to 9^th to 10^th century.

This Buddha is in a sanctum sanctorum with a grilled gate. The sanctum sanctorum was built with bricks. The Vimana interior bricks can be seen from the bottom. It was told that there was a mukha mandapam infront of the sanctum sanctorum which was fallen down. It was further told that reconstruction of this Buddha temple was turned down by local panchayat leaders.

HOW TO REACH

The Temple at Peruncheri is about 1 KM from Chavadi Bus stop on Mayiladuthurai to Thiruthuraipoondi Road, 9 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 10.4 KM from Peralam, 60 KM from Thiruthuraipoondi and 310 KM from Chennai.

Nearest railway station is Mayiladuthurai.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Buddhas! Buddhas!! of Arpakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Buddha sculptures in Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple at Arpakkam, was a part of REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26^th February 2023. Thiruvaliswarar Temple and Adhinathar Jain temple are close to this Adhikesava Perumal Temple. This Arpakkam Village is on the banks of river Cheyyar, a tributary of Palar River and about 2 KM from Magaral, a Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva temple.

இந்த ஆர்பாக்கம் கிராமம் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம் பாலாற்றங் கரையில் அமைந்துள்ளது. இவ்வூர் ஒருகாலத்தில் சமணம், பவுத்தம், வைஷ்ணவம் மற்றும் சைவம் சிறப்புற்று இருந்தது. புத்தரின் பின்னப்பட்ட சிலைகள் இக்கோயில் வளாகத்தினுள்ளும் மதில் சுவர் அருகேயும் காணப்படுவது அதற்கான சான்றுகளாகும். மதில் சுவர் அருகே இருக்கும் புத்தர் தலை இன்றி அமர்ந்த நிலையில் காணப்படுகின்றார்.

  

PC- Mahatma Selvapandian

This Buddha is kept out side the premises ( above picture ). This Buddha sculpture is in sitting - meditation - posture  with bhumisparsha hastham / mudra. Legs are not visible.

In praharam A Buddha sculpture is kept as loose Sculpture in standing posture. Hands are in broken conditions.   

HOW TO REACH

Arpakkam is about 2.2 KM from Magaral one of the thevara Paadal Petra Sthalam, 15 KM from Kanchipuram, 37 KM from Chengalpattu, 51 KM from Tambaram and 82 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple / Lord Perumal Temple / ஆதிகேசவ பெருமாள் கோயில், ஆர்பாக்கம் / Arpakkam, Kanchipuram District, Tamil Nadu.

The visit to this Sri Adhikesava Perumal Temple at Arpakkam, was a part of REACH Foundation’s Epigraphic field visit on 26^th February 2023. Thiruvaliswarar Temple and Adhinathar Jain temple are close to this Adhikesava Perumal Temple. This Arpakkam Village is on the banks of river Cheyyar, a tributary of Palar River and about 2 KM from Magaral, a Thevara Paadal Petra Shiva temple.

இந்த ஆர்பாக்கம் கிராமம் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம் பாலாற்றங் கரையில் அமைந்துள்ளது. இவ்வூர் ஒருகாலத்தில் சமணம், பவுத்தம், வைஷ்ணவம் மற்றும் சைவம் சிறப்புற்று இருந்தது. இன்றும் வழிபாட்டில் இருக்கும் சமணர் கோயில் பெருமாள் கோயில் தெருவின் கடைசியிலும், புத்தரின் பின்னப்பட்ட சிலைகள் இக்கோயில் வளாகத்தினுள்ளும் மதில் சுவர் அருகேயும் காணப்படுவது அதற்கான சான்றுகளாகும். மூலவர், ஸ்ரீதேவி மற்றும் பூதேவியுடன் சுமார் 7 அடி உயரமாக காணப்படுகின்றனர். சுதையால் செய்யப்பட்ட துவார பாலகர்கள் கருவறை வாயிலின் இருபுறமும் காணப்படுகின்றனர். 

இக்கோயில் சோழர்களால் கட்டப்பட்டு நாயக்கர் காலத்தில் புரணமைக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கலாம் என ஆய்வாளர்கள் கருதுகின்றனர். கல்வெட்டுக்களின் படி இவ்வூர் ஜெயங்கொண்ட சோழமண்டலத்து எயிர் கோட்டத்து எயிர் நாட்டு ஆர்பாக்கம் என அழைக்கப்பட்டது. மூலவர் கேசவ பெருமாள் என்றும், வீர விண்ணகர ஆழ்வார் என அழைக்கப்பட்டார். 

Moolavar  : Sri Adi Kesava Perumal

Consort    : Sri Amirthavalli Thayar

Some of the salient features of this temple are….

The temple facing west with 2 tala Rajagopuram. Deepa sthamabam, balipeedam, broken Dwajasthambam / kodimaram and garudan are after the Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Maha Vishnu’s 10 avatars are on the top of the mandapam. Moolavar Sri Adikesava Perumal is with Sridevi and Bhudevi in the sanctum sanctorum, are about 7 feet tall. Stucco images of Dwarapalakas are at the entrance of sanctum sanctorum. Alwars and Old Moolavar Adhikesava Perumal are in the ardha mandapam.

In praharam Amirthavalli Thayar, Andal and a damaged Loose sculpture of Buddha. Viswaksenar is in a separate sannidhi.

The Alwars

The original Moolavar

Utsavars

Garuda

ARCHITECTURE

The temple consists of Sanctum sanctorum, antarala, ardha mandapam, a maha mandapam and a mukha mandapam. The sanctum sanctorum is on a pada bandha adhistanam with jagathi, threepatta kumudam and pattikai. The Bhitti starts with Vedika. The Brahmakantha pilasters are shown on the Bhitti. From adhisthanam to prastaram the structure was built with stone. The prastaram consists of Valapi, kapotham with Nasis and Vyyalavari. A two tala brick vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. 

Sri Amirthavalli Thayar and Andal are in separate sannidhis with sanctum sanctorum and mukha mandapam, facing east.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

As per the inscriptions this place was called as Jayangonda Chozha mandalathu, Eyirkottathu Eyir Nattu Arpakkam and Moolavar was called as Kesava Perumal and Veera Vinnagara alwar. The temple was constructed between 1003 CE to 1008 CE. The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Chozhas and Vijayanagaras.

Rajaraja-I, period inscription records the endowment of Sandhi lamp for which donations are given to the temple.

The inscription also records the measurements like Chozhiyam and arumozhithevan. A 1039 CE Inscription records that the appointment of 7 Musicians, which shows that this temple was very popular during that period. ( as per Mr Saikumar )

Maha samprokshanam was conducted after attending repair works in 1646, during Vijayanagara period and on 24^th May 2010 along with replacement of Kodimaram made out of Athi / fig tree. ( The same is alsofound in damaged condition during our visit on 26^th Feb 2023 ).

  

LEGENDS

It is believed that, worshiping Anjaneyar will get rid of the problems due to Saneeswarar, since Anjaneyar is facing south similar to Saneeswarar.

This is a parihara sthalam for Marriages, since Thayar is facing east direction. Devotees believed that marriages will be finalised after,  lighting 5 / 7 ghee lamps in front of Garuda  on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Since Moolavar is facing west, the same direction of Sukra, praying Perumal of this temple will get rid of doshas in Kalathra sthanam

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Apart from regular poojas as per Vaikanasa agama special poojas are conducted on Saturdays, Margazhi Utsavam, Thirukalyanam for Andal in Adipooram day, Vada mala to Anjaneyar on Saturdays.

TEMPLE TIMINGS

The temple will be kept opened between 09.00 hrs to 10.00 hrs and 17.00 hrs to 19.00 Hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS

Santhana krishana Bhattachariyar’s mobile number  +91 9790481309 may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH

Arpakkam is about 2.2 KM from Magaral one of the thevara Paadla Petra Sthalam, 15 KM from Kanchipuram, 37 KM from Chengalpattu, 51 KM from Tambaram and 82 KM from Chennai Central.

Nearest Railway Station is Kanchipuram.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE  : CLICK HERE

Outside mandapa ceiling reliefs

BUDDHAS 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---