Latest news with #MahayanaBuddhism
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Headless sculpture of Buddha, three rock cut caves found at Kadri in Mangaluru
A headless sculpture of the Buddha and a group of three rock cut caves of great importance were found during a recent archaeological exploration conducted at Kadri in Mangaluru, according to T. Murugeshi, retired associate professor in ancient history and archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva, Udupi district. 'The sculpture is stylistically datable to the 4th or 6th century A.D.' he said in a release. The sculpture was found in a water tank near the Kadri Manjunatha temple in a discarded state. The sculpture was lifted from the tank for study with the permission of the temple administrator, he said in a release. The sculpture was highly corroded. 'The head has been chopped off and the right hand is destroyed, but, still it has its serene beauty in its physical appearance. The Buddha is seated in the padmasana pose on the padma peeta in dhyana mudra by placing both palms above the centre of legs. The upper cloth passing over the left shoulder lays flat on the chest is very indistinctly visible,' he said. A pillar in the outer prakara of the temple has Dhyana Buddha sculptures seated on lotus. 'Thus, this sculpture under study is identified as Dhyana Buddha beyond doubt. The sculpture is about 68 cm in height and 48 cm in width including the prop of the image. The sculpture is stylistically datable to 4th - 6th century A.D. It is supposed to be the presiding deity of the temple,' he said. Mr. Murugeshi said a group of three rock cut caves found above the eastern side of Kadri tanks are of curious interest. 'They are cut in laterite above the ground. The first one from the right is about 8 feet in height and has a semi circular entrance like a porthole. It has a single square room with a small provision for a lamp. The entire structure looks like a megalithic dolmen. The middle and third ones have a high plinth and two square entrances with single square rooms. All caves have a sloppy canopy with holes to clear off rainy water. The nature of the caves clearly indicates that they were used for residential purpose,' the historian said in the release. The present discovery under study has a great importance in South Asian Buddhist studies and Tuluva history as well. The sculpture found at Kadri has close similarities with that of the Buddha image found at Mushira Waddo in Colvale of Goa, now displayed in Fr. Heras Institute at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. The Dhyana Buddha image belongs to Mahayana Buddhism and caves also belong to the Mahayanists. 'By this discovery the decades of controversy over Kadri, whether it was a Buddhist centre or not is very clear. Kadri is a Buddhist centre over the centuries right up to 10th century A.D. as revealed by the inscription of Alupa king Kundavarma found on the Lokeshwara image of Kadri temple. The Mahayana Buddhist was replaced by Vajrayana Buddhist and they were turned out by Natha cult in 11th century,' he said. 'I am hereby requesting the commissioner of State Archaeology to take steps to recover this rare antiquity sculpture and protect it immediately,' he said. The historian said that he is thankful to Arun Kumar, the temple administrator for allowing to lift the sculpture for study. Shreyas Kolpe, a PhD student of Manipal University, Shreyas, an Assistant Professor in Ancient History and Archaeology, MSRS College; Shirva, Karthik, a postgraduate student in archaeology from the University College, Mangaluru, and Ravindra Kushwaha, a graduate student in archaeology, MSRS College helped in field work, the release said.
Hans India
a day ago
- General
- Hans India
Ancient headless Buddha idol and rock-cut caves discovered
Mangaluru: A corroded, headless statue of the Buddha, believed to date back to the 4th–6th century CE, has been discovered in a temple tank near the historic Kadri Manjunatha Temple in Mangaluru. Alongside the sculpture, a cluster of ancient rock-cut caves has also been identified, offering fresh evidence of the region's once-flourishing Buddhist heritage. The discovery was made by Prof. T. Murugeshi, a retired archaeologist and former associate professor of Ancient History and Archaeology at MSRS College, Shirva. The Buddha image was found submerged in a water tank and retrieved with permission from the temple authorities. Though partially damaged, the statue remains notable for its meditative grace. The seated Buddha, missing its head and right hand, is shown in Padmasana (lotus position) with both palms resting in the classic Dhyana Mudra (gesture of meditation). Faint traces of a robe across the chest and a lotus pedestal suggest it is a Dhyani Buddha, commonly associated with Mahayana Buddhism. 'The iconography and posture are unmistakably Mahayanist,' said Prof. Murugeshi. 'This figure may well have been the presiding deity of an earlier Buddhist shrine at the site, long before it became a Shaiva-Vaishnava centre.' The adjacent caves, carved into laterite rock above the temple tank, add further depth to the site's historical importance. The three caves feature square rooms, raised plinths, porthole-style and square entrances, and sloped roofs with drainage holes — features pointing to their use as ancient monastic dwellings. The latest findings are expected to reshape scholarly understanding of Mangaluru's religious history. The region, now a major port city, was once home to vibrant Buddhist communities. Inscriptions dating to the 10th century — including one by the Alupa king Kundavarma found at Kadri — had earlier hinted at such a presence, but conclusive archaeological evidence had remained elusive. 'This discovery settles the long-standing debate over whether Kadri was a Buddhist centre. The evidence is now undeniable,' Prof. Murugeshi said. He noted that the Buddha statue bears stylistic similarities to a 6th-century image found in Goa's Colvale region, now displayed at the Heras Institute in Mumbai. The archaeologist credited his fieldwork team — comprising students and research assistants from MSRS College, University College Mangaluru, and Manipal University — and thanked temple administrator Arun Kumar for facilitating the study. Prof. Murugeshi has appealed to the Karnataka Department of Archaeology to recover and preserve the artefacts, describing them as 'priceless markers of our shared cultural past.'
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Widespread outrage over derogatory remarks against Amaravati
Mangalagiri: A recent incident involving a channel analyst and journalist making highly derogatory remarks about Amaravati has sparked widespread outrage, with many alleging a well-organised conspiracy behind the comments. Public and official circles are urged to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. The controversial statements, which targeted the capital region, its residents, particularly women, and the rich historical and Buddhist heritage of the area, cannot be dismissed as mere individual opinion. The channel, far from disassociating itself from the comments or condemning them during the discussion, allowed them to be aired without challenge. This inaction suggests a deliberate attempt to insult and ridicule Amaravati and its people with vile language, according to a statement from Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. The Deputy Chief Minister's statement highlights a concerning lack of historical awareness among those engaging in 'vile propaganda' against Amaravati. The region boasts a profound historical and spiritual significance, with inscriptions from the Maurya and Ikshvaku dynasties, and Kakatiya rulers. Chinese traveler Xuanzang's writings attest to the region's flourishing Buddhist heritage. 'This is the land where Acharya Nagarjuna walked,' the statement read, emphasising that Mahayana Buddhism, along with other traditions, thrived here, making it a sacred place for Buddhists. The Amaravati school of sculpture found patronage in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asian countries where Buddhism spread. 'Have those making such vile comments ever considered the sentiments of people who believe in these faiths?' the statement questioned. The statement further accuses previous rulers and their associates of consistently attempting to tarnish Amaravati's image through malicious remarks, likening the capital to a 'cremation ground' and branding it with casteist labels. Farmers who donated land for the capital were allegedly harassed with false cases and suppressed politically when they protested for the capital to remain. Notably, 32 per cent of the farmers who contributed land belong to SC and ST communities. The previous government is accused of filing SC/ST atrocity cases against these very farmers who were protesting for Amaravati to remain the capital. Additionally, 14 per cent were BC farmers, 20 per cent from the Reddy community, 18 per cent Kamma, 9 per cent Kapu, and 3 per cent Muslim farmers. The recent derogatory comments made on the TV channel are seen as an insult to all women in the capital region, irrespective of their caste or community (SC, ST, BC and others). 'The malicious intent of this group appears to be to cast a negative light on a region being developed as a people's capital,' the Deputy Chief Minister's statement concluded. It vowed that the State government will act decisively against individuals involved in such conspiracies and malicious propaganda, and those behind them. Police are expected to take legal action against those who made the vile remarks.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Found a 1,000-Year-Old Buddha Statue With Stunning Details
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." An ancient Buddha statue from the early Goryeo dynasty was recently discovered at an archaeological site in North Korea. The Goryeo study saw the flourishing of Buddhist art and architecture funded by royalty and wealthy patrons. Depicted by the statue is the Buddha Amitābha, a prominent figure in Mahayana Buddhism. '…there is a world called Ultimate Bliss. In this land a Buddha called Amitābha right now teaches the Dharma.' —excerpt from the Amitābha Sutra With its eyes closed in eternal prayer, a 1.7-meter-tall statue of a Buddha was unearthed by the Korean Archaeology Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences and the National Authority for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at an archaeological site in Yakjon-ri, South Phyongan Province, North Korea. It is an early relic of the Goryeo (pronounced 'Koryo') dynasty, which rose in 918 A.D. and lasted until 1392. Also known as the Golden Age of Buddhism (or the Age of Enlightenment) in Korea, the Goryeo dynasty—which was a Buddhist state—saw the flourishing of religious art and architecture known as Bulsa, or 'Buddhist Projects.' Goryeo Korea was stricken by rainstorms over some periods and droughts during others, and those climate extremes are thought by many archaeologists and historians to have influenced kings to lead deeply religious lifestyles that then spread amongst the people. Rituals were carried out and prayers spoken to the heavens with the hope of a change in the climate, which might explain how artistic visions inspired by Buddhism became so popular. Korean aristocracy sponsored most Bulsa, which ranged from temples (which could never be built in random places, so as not to hurt the veins of the Earth) to sculptures, paintings, illuminated manuscripts, ceramics, and lacquerware. Royals and upper-class patrons were concerned about welfare, stability, and peace in their mortal lives and beyond, which is likely why they were wont to approve and fund projects like this statue. Carved into weathered stone is the face of the Buddha Amitābha, whose name translates to the Buddha of Boundless Light. Amitābha is a prominent figure in Pure Land Buddhism—a branch of Mahayana Buddhism in which believers pray to be reborn in a Pure Land, or a realm where they can study under a Buddha without earthly distractions. The Pure Land of the Buddha Amitābha is known as Sukhavati. Often depicted in Buddhist art, it is a paradise where demigods dwell, trees are always flowering, and lotus flowers bloom in pools where purified souls are reborn. Amitābha is often shown alongside two assistant bodhisattvas (beings on the path towards bodhi or Buddhahood) though this particular statue surfaced alone. Bodhisattvas have reached the highest level of enlightenment, but refrain from entering nirvana to save others from suffering, and are considered deities in Mahayana Buddhism. What is known as the Amitābha triad is brought to life in other early Goryeo sculptures of Amitābha himself—Avalokiteśvara on his right and Mahāsthāmaprāpta to the left. 'Through analysis of the position of the Buddha's two hands and other depictions, scholars confirmed it as the image of Amitābha,' the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reportedly stated in a press release. 'They also deepened the survey of tile pieces from the surroundings and discovered that they were made in the early 10th century, the early period of Goryeo.' While the tiles mentioned have not yet been shown to the public, they may be similar to tile fragments found at the site of a Goryeo temple in North Jeolla Province. Alas, during whose reign this image of Amitābha was built (and who it was built for) remains unknown. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
