Topic started by AK (@ sgigate.sgi.com) on Thu Sep 27 23:36:09 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

Hi Folks I have a couple of questions regaqrding the "Soodamani Viharam", a Buddhist monastery which was supposed to exist in Nagaipattinam. My questions are:

a) Does the soodamani viharam still exist? If not are there at least ruins of the above?

b) Kalki in his Ponniyin Selvan says that it existed during the time of Sundara Chozhar.

However, Sandilyan in Kadal Pura, says that Veera Rajendra Chozhar gave permission to one of the Kings of the Sri Vijaya Empire in Malaysia to build the soodamani Viharam in Nagaipattinam.

Are they both talking about the same viharam? If so who is right? If not, were there two separate ones?

Cheers,

AK

Responses:

• From: kik (@ ts3-158.silcon.com) on: Fri Sep 28 21:36:48
  
  There was only one & it was real - it frequently was destroyed by flood and had to be rebuilt. Massive sculptures of the buddha unearthed from around the vihaaram grace various museums around the world - I believe the chennai fort museum has one. There's a beautiful one at Chicago's Art Institute.
  
  The only remaining monument (aside from temples that is) from chola times are the ruins of a lighthouse at kOdikkarai.
  
  There are various mounds in gangai konda chozhapuram reputed to contain ruins - the place is under ASI supervision but nothing much appears to have been found (done?). Reports of about a 100 years ago cite the existence at that time of the ruins of the chola palace in that area (destroyed by the pandyas). These later disappeared.
  
  
• From: AK (@ mcns171.docsis107.singa.pore.net) on: Sat Sep 29 04:18:58
  
  Thanks kik. But then when exactly was it built. The two sources give differing time frames.
  
  ALso, I have visited Gangai Konda Chozha puram... My dad and myself.. went there from Thanjavur.. had a devil of a time finding it.. but was worth it.. beautiful.. but sadly... seemed to be in ruins... even if it is an ASI site...
  
  Cheers,
  
  AK
  
  
• From: sarvan (@ ) on: Thu Dec 9 07:38:19
  
  can anyone refer the site(s) (if any) that provides sandilyan's books online?
  
  

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