BBC: Buried temples in Mahabalipuram surface after tsunami

[Guest guest]

Rajeev Srinivasan <rajeev.srinivasan@g...> wrote:

 

February 11

 

many so-called myths and legends in india have actual historical

roots. for instance, there are many claims of buried structures off

mahabalipuram, poompuhar and kanyakumari. these, if investigated, are

likely to show that previous floods/tsunamis did engulf old cities.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4257181.stm

----------

 

The deadly tsunami could have uncovered the remains of an ancient port

city off the coast in southern India.

 

Archaeologists say they have discovered some stone remains from the

coast close to India's famous beachfront Mahabalipuram temple in Tamil

Nadu state following the 26 December tsunami.

 

They believe that the "structures" could be the remains of an ancient

and once-flourishing port city in the area housing the famous

1200-year-old rock-hewn temple.

 

Three pieces of remains, which include a granite lion, were found

buried in the sand after the coastline receded in the area after the

tsunami struck.

 

Undersea remains

 

"They could be part of the small seaport city which existed here

before water engulfed them. They could be part of a temple or a

building. We are investigating," says T Sathiamoorthy of

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

 

Archaeologists say that the stone remains date back to 7th Century AD

and are nearly 6ft tall.

 

They have elaborate engravings of the kind that are found in the

Mahabalipuram temple.

 

The temple, which is a World Heritage site, represents some of the

earliest-known examples of Dravidian architecture dating back to 7th

Century AD.

 

The monument also has gigantic open air reliefs hewn out from granite.

 

Buddha sculpture found in Mahabalipuram

The bronze Buddha which floated up the coast at Kalapakkam

 

The tsunami waves have also helped the archaeologists in desilting one

such relief which had been covered with sand for ages.

 

A half-completed rock relief of an elephant got "naturally desilted"

by the ferocious waves and is now drawing large crowds at this popular

tourist destination.

 

For the past three years, archaeologists working with divers from

India and England have found the remnants of the ancient port.

 

Archaeologists say they had done underwater surveys 1 km into the sea

from the temple and found some undersea remains.

 

Legend

 

The myths of Mahabalipuram were first set down in writing by British

traveller J Goldingham, who visited the South Indian coastal town in

1798, at which time it was known to sailors as the Seven Pagodas.

 

The myths speak of six temples submerged beneath the waves with the

seventh temple still standing on the seashore.

 

The myths also state that a large city which once stood on the site

was so beautiful the gods became jealous and sent a flood that

swallowed it up entirely in a single day.

 

The tsunami has also washed up a 9 inch-tall bronze Buddha on the

coast off Kalapakkam in the state.

 

"It was lying with some other objects. It must have been carried out

to the sea from Burma or Thailand," says T Sathiamoorthy.

 

The Buddha has been handed over to the local authorities, and may

sound find a place in an Indian museum.

 

"We will protect it if nobody claims it," says Mr Sathiamoorthy.

--- End forwarded message ---

[Guest guest]

NOTE BBC'S 'POETIC' HEADLINE TO THE STORY....'TSUNAMI THROWS UP' AS IN

BARF?

>

> Rajeev Srinivasan <rajeev.srinivasan@g...> wrote:

>

> February 11

>

> many so-called myths and legends in india have actual historical

> roots. for instance, there are many claims of buried structures off

> mahabalipuram, poompuhar and kanyakumari. these, if investigated, are

> likely to show that previous floods/tsunamis did engulf old cities.

>

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4257181.stm

> ----------

>

> The deadly tsunami could have uncovered the remains of an ancient port

> city off the coast in southern India.

>

> Archaeologists say they have discovered some stone remains from the

> coast close to India's famous beachfront Mahabalipuram temple in Tamil

> Nadu state following the 26 December tsunami.

>

> They believe that the "structures" could be the remains of an ancient

> and once-flourishing port city in the area housing the famous

> 1200-year-old rock-hewn temple.

>

> Three pieces of remains, which include a granite lion, were found

> buried in the sand after the coastline receded in the area after the

> tsunami struck.

>

> Undersea remains

>

> "They could be part of the small seaport city which existed here

> before water engulfed them. They could be part of a temple or a

> building. We are investigating," says T Sathiamoorthy of

> Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

>

> Archaeologists say that the stone remains date back to 7th Century AD

> and are nearly 6ft tall.

>

> They have elaborate engravings of the kind that are found in the

> Mahabalipuram temple.

>

> The temple, which is a World Heritage site, represents some of the

> earliest-known examples of Dravidian architecture dating back to 7th

> Century AD.

>

> The monument also has gigantic open air reliefs hewn out from granite.

>

> Buddha sculpture found in Mahabalipuram

> The bronze Buddha which floated up the coast at Kalapakkam

>

> The tsunami waves have also helped the archaeologists in desilting one

> such relief which had been covered with sand for ages.

>

> A half-completed rock relief of an elephant got "naturally desilted"

> by the ferocious waves and is now drawing large crowds at this popular

> tourist destination.

>

> For the past three years, archaeologists working with divers from

> India and England have found the remnants of the ancient port.

>

> Archaeologists say they had done underwater surveys 1 km into the sea

> from the temple and found some undersea remains.

>

> Legend

>

> The myths of Mahabalipuram were first set down in writing by British

> traveller J Goldingham, who visited the South Indian coastal town in

> 1798, at which time it was known to sailors as the Seven Pagodas.

>

> The myths speak of six temples submerged beneath the waves with the

> seventh temple still standing on the seashore.

>

> The myths also state that a large city which once stood on the site

> was so beautiful the gods became jealous and sent a flood that

> swallowed it up entirely in a single day.

>

> The tsunami has also washed up a 9 inch-tall bronze Buddha on the

> coast off Kalapakkam in the state.

>

> "It was lying with some other objects. It must have been carried out

> to the sea from Burma or Thailand," says T Sathiamoorthy.

>

> The Buddha has been handed over to the local authorities, and may

> sound find a place in an Indian museum.

>

> "We will protect it if nobody claims it," says Mr Sathiamoorthy.

> --- End forwarded message ---