Avalokita and Buddhist vestiges from Kanyakumari district

[Guest guest]

Buddhist relics found in Kanyakumari district

http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IET20030209130657&Page=T&T

itle=Southern+News+%2D+Tamil+Nadu&rLink=0

 

NAGERCOIL: Traces of Buddhist civilisation have been found in

Therur, Putheri and Sakkiankodu areas in Kanyakumari district,

according to Dr Padmanabhan, general secretary of Kanyakumari

Historical and Cultural Research Centre.

 

Speaking to reporters here, Padmanabhan said there was a

close link between Podhihai hill on the border of Kanyakumari

district and Buddhism. There was a famous Buddhist vihar atop

the hill. Emperor Asokha's son Mahinda and daughter Sangamithra

had visited Kanyakumari and were engaged in propagating Buddhism

in the area. The place where they stayed is called Mahendragiri,

Padmanabhan said.

 

The Sastha temple in Aralvaimozhi was a Buddhist school in ancient

times. `Thambiran vilayattu', a folk art staged by the people

of the area, reflects the Buddhist culture, he said.

 

Archaeological excavation in Therur had yielded idols of

Avalohithar and Tara Devi, who are worshipped by the Buddhists.

Research had also revealed that the Buddhist school at Sakkiankodu has

now been converted into a Vinayaka temple, Padmanabhan added.