they are Buddhas

[Guest guest]

Mr T.Satyamurthy ,Supdt Archaeologist,at ASI Chennai (Madras)'

clarified in reply to Mr S.Theodore Bhaskaran's letter (see The Hindu

18.02.2006,Mangalore edition, Op-Ed p. 11 ) thus:

"....The sculptures were throughly examined by a team of scholars.

They identified them on the following grounds.The figure on the right

in the photo was definitely that of the Buddha because of the presence

of Dharma Chakras.An 'ushnisha' is shown by a small projection at the

center over the head of the image, which is a characteristic feature

of a Buddha image.The Buddha is seated on a 'simhasana' as seen in the

painting of the Buddha image in the murals of the Brihadisvara temple

at Thanjavur.This is not a 'lanchana', which is predominant in

Mahavira images.

The assertion that the images are nude is wrong.There are wavy lines

running across the upper arms and chest of the above image, indicating

the folds of the upper garment, a characteristic feature of Buddha image .

The sculpture on the left has three umbrellas (mukkudai) over the

head, which is also associated with many Buddha sculptures in Tamil

Nadu.This is also a salient feature of the Buddha depicted in the

murals of the Brihadisvara temple. There is no conch, which is a

'lanchana' in of one of the Tirthankaras,

anywhere in any image.

Both the sculptures bear aureoles behind the head, which is a striking

feature of Buddha sculpture.The button-shaped hairstyle , a

characteristic feature of Buddha image , is very prominent in both

images. The sculpture on the left is more akin to its south-east Asian

counterpart.

The identification is further authenticated by the discovery of a

lithic record datable to 10th c.ADin the nearby Agastisvara temple

where the king of Srivijaya has made a donation.It is established

that the kings of Srivijaya were followers of Buddhism."(end of report)

Hari

Thalassery

Kerala,India