p20235 Buddhism in Ancient Tamilnadu

This lesson analyses the advent and growth of Buddhism in ancient Tamilnadu. It sketches the life of Buddha. It talks about the basic tenets of Buddhist philosophy and examines the differences between the 2 sects of Buddhism- Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

Buddha was born as a prince of the Sakya tribe. When he was 29 years old, he renounced the comforts of a princely life to understand life and the meaning of the suffering he saw around him. He attained enlightenment after six years of meditation and yogic training.

Buddhism came to Tamilnadu around the 3rd century B.C. It is believed that Emperor Asoka and his son Mahendran brought Buddhism to Tamilnadu. Kaveri Poompattinam, Kumbakonam, Mayura Pattinam, Nagaipattinam, Kancheepuram, Pallavaram, Madurai, Tanjore, Azhagar Malai, Siddhar Malai, Kunnakudi and Trichy were some of the regions in ancient Tamilnadu where Buddhism flourished. Buddhism enjoins the worship of The Buddha or ‘the enlightened one’. It acknowledges no Supreme Deity. The Buddha is accepted as the teacher in one’s quest for enlightenment.

After Buddha attained nirvana, his disciples buried his sacred ash and bones in various sites. They built shrines in these places. The Buddha’s nails, teeth and hair were also preserved in these shrines known as ‘chaityams’ or symbols of worship. These chaityams were called ‘Sareeraga Chaityams’. Some other Buddhist monks venerated The Buddha by worshipping his staff, clothes, bowl etc. in chaityams built for them. These were called the ‘Pariboga Chaityam’. The Buddhists worshipped the ‘Dharma Peedigai’ in the form of Chakra and the ‘Pada Peedigai’ in the form of the Buddha’s feet. The practice of worshipping the figure of the Buddha cast in lime or sculpted in stone evolved later. Manimekalai, Sampathi, Kanthir Pavai, Sadur Maharajigar, and Avalohitar are some of the minor deities of Buddhism.

Buddha preached his philosophy in Pali language. After he attained nirvana, his teachings were passed on orally by his disciples to the other monks. The teachings of Buddha were compiled into a text by king Abayan who ruled Srilanka from 29 B.C. to 17 B.C. This sacred text was called ‘Thiripitagam’ or ‘Thipitagam’ in Pali. There are 3 pitagams. They are Vinaya Pitagam, Abhidamma Pitagam and Sutra Pitagam. After Buddha attained nirvana, the first Buddhist council was held in order to recite and preserve the teachings of Buddha. A monk by name Upali recited the teachings of Gautama Buddha at this council. This was later compiled as the Vinaya Pitagam. Ananda, another disciple of Buddha recited the discourses of Budhha. This came to be known as the Abhidamma Pitagam. Parts of Abhidamma Pitagam were compiled separately as Sutra Pitagam. The Sutra Pitagam is the most important of the three Pitagams as it contains all the tenets of Buddhist philosophy. Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism are the 2 important forms of Buddhism. 110 years after the parinirvana of Buddha, 700 monks gathered in the city of Vaisali to analyze and set down the basic tenets of Buddhism. This council of monks insisted that no new doctrines other than the ones preached by Buddha can be added to the Buddhist philosophy. Around 10,000 monks were condemned as heretics as they refused to adhere to this injunction laid down by this council. It is said that these non-adherents later constituted their school of Buddhism which came to be known as Mahayana Buddhism. The sect which follows only the principles enunciated during the lifetime of Buddha is called Theravada Buddhism.