13th century stone inscription on endowment for Buddhist monastery discovered in Krishnagiri
The inscription, found in a mango farm in Jagadap village near Kaveripattinam, would be the first such stone inscription referring to a Buddhist monastery discovered yet, according to C. Govindaraj, former curator, Krishnagiri government museum, who did the epigraphic study of the Jagadap inscriptions.
While there have been many findings of stone inscriptions referring to Jain monasteries in Tamil Nadu, no stone inscription referring to a Buddhist monastery has been found until now, which makes the Jagadap stone inscription a significant discovery, according to Mr. Govindaraj, who also leads the Krishnagiri Historic Research and Documentation team.
That stone inscription refers to a Buddhist monastery has been inferred after meticulous epigraphic reading at the site and the interpretive evidence, explains the former curator.
The inscription with nine lines — part missed due to the dismembered portion of the rock — refers to a Mangalamudayan, possibly a trader from Thillai, who had endowed the revenue from the land to a Buddhist monastery. The inscription mentions 'Buddha Devan' and significantly begins with two symbols – one of a 'chakra' and of 'stupa'.
'Chakra' is common to endowments under Vaishnavism, Buddhism and Jainism. But the second symbol that has been interpreted to denote the 'Stupa' is key to inferring the endowment as to that of a Buddhist monastery, says Mr. Govindaraj.
'Since a stone inscription of Buddhist stupa has never been found in Tamil Nadu so far, the symbol identified as 'stupa' has been inferred from two other places. The symbol that follows the 'chakra' fulfils all three parts that make up a Buddhist stupa and resembles similar symbols in two other places. 'A similar, but more ornate symbol along with a 'chakra' is seen in a pillar in Kanikiluppai in Tiruvanamalai district, the site, where a Buddha statue was found. The second such symbol was on the back of the Buddha statue in the Asiatic Society building compound in Sholinganallur.' The similarity of the inscription has helped conclude it to be a 'stupa', therefore referring to a Buddhist monastery, says Mr.Govindaraj.
'For Jainism, there is the triple umbrella or the Mukkodai; for Vaishanvism, the inscriptions bear the conch and the 'chakra'; and for Saivism, the inscription bears the Tirusoolam. For Buddhism, a stone inscription had not found to make the inference,' he added.
About 50 feet away from the site, on a small hillock, the dual symbols of 'chakra' and the 'stupa' are inscribed. Another 30 feet away, a cavern with faint traces of what once were letters in white ochre stands, indicating the possibility of the resting place for Buddhist monks, says Mr.Govindaraj.
Earliest reference to a Buddhist monastery was from the copper plates from the Raja Raja Chola period. The Anaimangalam copper plates, now part of the library collection in University of Leiden in Netherlands, was the royal charter issued by Raja Raja Chola. It referred to the Chudamani Vihara, the Buddhist monastery in Nagapattinam that was established by the Sri Vijaya king highlighting the links between Raja Raja Chola and the Sri Vijaya Empire.
The Anaimangalam copper plates refers to the revenue grants to the Chudamani Vihara, that was to be maintained from the revenue grants from Anaimangalam village in Nagapattianam.
'The Nagapattinam Buddhist monastery – Chudamani Vihara is mentioned in the Large Leiden Copper Plates, the Royal Charter issued during Raja Raja's reign , and it finds mention once again in the Small Leiden Copper Plates issued during Kulothunga Cholan, referring to certain administrative issues faced by the Buddhist Monastery,' adds Mr.Govindaraj, who did the epigraphic study of the Jagadap stone inscription.
As for the Buddhist monastery itself to which, the endowment was made, the inscription refers to Kadaikoottur, that is inferred to indicate Kadagathur in Dharmapuri. According to Mr. Govindaraj, two Buddha statues – a standing Buddha and a seated Buddha— were found years ago in Kadagathur, during an excavation for a primary school. An old Siva temple there bears inscriptions mentioning its boundaries to include lands of 'Buddhar Dhamam'.
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