T.N. Archaeology Department begins survey for excavation in Nagapattinam
The Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department is carrying out an exploration in the port town of Nagapattinam, ahead of launching an excavation to look for remains of the famed Buddhist monastery, Chudamani Vihara, believed to have been built during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE).
Over the past few days, the Department has been conducting a survey using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR), a remote sensing method, at the District Court Complex in Nagapattinam, where the monastery is believed to have existed. A drone was deployed to carry out the survey to assess and identify the location for taking up systematic archaeological excavation.
The exploration was conducted by a team of officials of the Department of Archaeology led by R. Sivanantham, Joint Director of Archaeology, and K. Vasanthakumar, Archaeological Officer, along with G. Muthusankar, Head of GIS Projects, Department of Geospatial Monitoring and Information Technology, French Institute of Pondicherry.
'A proposal would be drawn up based on the survey, and the actual excavation will commence after obtaining the licence from the Central Advisory Board on Archaeology,' sources in the Department told The Hindu.
The Tamil Nadu government, in its Budget 2025-26, had announced that archaeological excavations would be undertaken at eight locations, including Keezhadi, Telunganur in Salem, Vellalur in Coimbatore, Adichanur in Kallakurichi, Manikollai in Cuddalore, Karivalamvanthanallur in Tenkasi, Pattanamarudur in Thoothukudi, and Nagapattinam.
Nagapattinam is believed to have been a citadel of Buddhism in South India. The nearby ancient port city of Poompuhar, also known as Kaveripoompattinam, was the capital of the early Cholas. The State government has also announced plans to take up deep-sea excavations between Poompuhar and Nagapattinam this year.
The District Court complex in Nagapattinam now houses the District Munsif Court and the District Combined Court buildings, believed to be more than a century old. The buildings were recently renovated by the Building Centre and Conservation Division of the Public Works Department.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Hyderabad cardiologist gets US patent for multi-functional cardiac occluder
File photo: Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti HYDERABAD: An innovative device that can fix various types of cardiac defects, designed by Hyderabad-based Dr Nageswara Rao Koneti, who heads the Cardiology Division at Rainbow Children's Heart Institute, has been granted a US patent. Called KONAR-MF Occluder, the multi-functional device can close septal defects in children and adults. It is a double umbrella disc device made of nitinol, a biocompatible nickel and titanium alloy, and is stretchable up to 15 mm. It can treat various conditions, including ventricular septal defects, coronary arteriovenous fistulas, and paravalvular leaks. The device has already been patented in India, Europe (European Commission), Euro-African countries, and South Korea. The multifunctional device not only fixes multiple types of cardiac lesions but also makes advanced cardiac care more affordable for patients in India, as it costs just Rs 50,000 in India compared to Rs 1.2 lakh in Pakistan and Rs 2.5–6 lakhs in other parts of Asia and Europe, said Dr Koneti. Terming this as a proud moment for Indian science, Dr Koneti said: "This US patent validates that innovations from India can meet global standards. It took us over six years to develop the device, and we applied for CE approval in 2018.' He said the US patent now paves the way for a US FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approval for the device, which has already been implanted in about 10-15 patients in the US on compassionate grounds. "But we can also do clinical trials in the US if required," said Dr Koneti, who is a paediatric interventional cardiologist. He pointed out that the device has already demonstrated its safety and efficacy through over 20 peer-reviewed studies, and over 10,000 of these devices have already been implanted in patients in over 90 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa since the device got CE approval in 2018. The device is manufactured by LifeTech Scientific of China. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
Bhaskaracharya knew gravity before Newton gave theory: Guv Bagde
Jaipur: Governor Haribhau Bagde, speaking at the convocation ceremony of a private university in Jaipur Monday, made a striking remark that challenged conventional scientific history. He said that while Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727 CE) is credited with the discovery of gravity, Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya (1114-1185 CE) already wrote about the concept in 1150 AD in his famous treatise 'Lilavati'. Narrating an anecdote, the governor said, "Bhaskaracharya's daughter Lilavati once asked him why the Earth and planets don't fall despite being in motion. He explained that celestial bodies attract each other — this mutual attraction keeps them in place. That attraction is what we today call gravity. He wrote about this concept centuries before Newton did his research." Criticising the colonial disruption of Indian education, Bagde remarked, "We used to learn 'G (in Hindi) for Ganpati', but some objected to it being a religious reference. It was replaced with 'G for Gadha (donkey in Hindi)'. This is the result of a mindset that dismissed our cultural identity." He blamed British policies for systematically dismantling India's traditional knowledge systems. "British administrator Macaulay (1800–1859 CE) said that to rule India, its education system must be changed. And that's exactly what they did — replacing our ancient, holistic system with a Western model," Bagde said. He emphasised India's contribution to global knowledge by stating, "It was India that gave the world the decimal system. This is the foundation of numerical understanding across the world." Bagde emphasised that real education is about critical thinking and understanding, not rote memorisation. "Passing exams by copying or cramming is not education. The purpose of education is to develop intellectual capacity and articulate thoughts clearly," he noted. He hailed the New Education Policy (NEP) as a transformative step, saying it promotes independent thinking and Indian values.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- The Hindu
Ancient inscriptions and hero stones discovered in Mandya district
Four hero stones and two other inscriptions that were previously undiscovered have been unearthed in Nagamangala taluk of Mandya district recent. R. Kiran Kumar, assistant professor at Government First Grade College, K.R. Pet, who is working on his PhD thesis titled 'Monumental Sculptures of Mandya District', and Mohammed Kaleem Ullah, a retired teacher, made the discoveries during a recent field visit. Mr. Kiran Kumar said, 'Two hero stone inscriptions belong to the Ganga period and the other two are from the Hoysala period. With reference to the inscriptions, he said one pertains to a land grant inscription from the Hoysala period and the other is from the Vijayanagar period. The first hero stone inscription was found in a field in Byadarahalli, part of Nagamangala Kasaba. The inscription on the stone is dated to the 10th century CE and belongs to the reign of the Ganga king Satyavakya (Racha Malla), probably between 974-985 CE. Another hero stone inscription was found on the road to Halathi and is dated to the 10th century CE. Based on the script and stylistic features, it is believed to be from the Ganga period, although only a few letters remain, and the rest are eroded, according to Mr. Kiran Kumar. The third hero stone inscription, found in the forested Ankanahalli of Bellur hobli, and the term 'Beeragallu' (hero stone) appears visibly and this is attributed to 11th to 12th century CE. The fourth inscription, which was found in the same village on the road leading to Kalinganahalli, is inferred to be religious in nature and belongs to the Hoysala period. It features symbols of the sun, moon, conch, and chakra, and consists of fourteen lines. In addition, a Vijayanagar period inscription was found in the house of Vijayalakshmi of Katriguppe village in Bellur hobli. Half of the stone is buried in soil, and only the upper part of the inscription is visible. Another inscription was also discovered at Bireeshwara Halli. Mr. Kiran Kumar said that Nagamangala has been historically an important centre and has over the years yielded 185 inscriptions, including four from the Ganga dynasty, 46 from the Hoysala dynasty, 19 from the Vijayanagar empire, three from the Mysore rulers, and 113 other inscriptions in the region, he added.
