A group of intellectuals launch research platform Tamil Buddha Araichi Palli

MADURAI

The deity ‘Muni’, worshipped in villages in slightly varying names, is generally associated with its ferociousness. Writer and researcher Stalin Rajangam, however, says Tamil Lexicon brought out by the University of Madras lists ‘Muni’ as another name of Buddha. Other meanings of the word include ‘Theerthangara’ and ‘Arugan,’ all of which are polar opposite of the prevalent meaning.

“For instance, in Salem district, there is a Thalavetti Muneeswarar Temple, where the deity is a decapitated Buddha statue, whose face alone has been modified,” he says. This is just one example of a distinct Buddhist tradition that once thrived in Tamil-speaking landscape, which was later lost through distortion of history, and now remains as invisible residues in traditions, rituals, names and beliefs.

He says nearly 150 Buddha statues, most of which are defaced or decapitated, have been found in different parts of Tamil Nadu in recent years, which again indicates the prevalence of Buddhism here in the past.

It is primarily to rediscover this history that a group of intellectuals came together in Madurai to launch Tamil Buddha Araichi Palli, a research platform to look at history through an alternative lens without just relying on texts and other tangible evidence.

Mr. Rajangam says the idea is to use a unique approach used by Iyothee Thass Pandithar, the 19th century polymath, reformer and revolutionary, who imagined an alternative history of Dalits based on Buddhism.

“Iyothee Thass Pandithar, through various examples, tells us how history gets distorted over time because of retelling by the powers that be and how it can be traced back by carefully analysing traditions, rituals and even names,” he says.

He, however, highlights that both Buddhism and the works of Iyothee Thass Pandithar are presently seen only in the context of anti-caste struggle. “Looking at things politically is important. But looking at them culturally is also equally, if not more, important if we want to revive Buddhism as a counter to caste hegemony,” he said.

Stating that the platform was a collective of committed researchers, he says their research methodology will involve extensive field work.

“This differs from folklore studies, which has a tendency to place oral tradition above texts. We believe that there were interactions between both, and they influenced each other,” he adds.

He says the platform intends to organise at least two conferences every year to discuss and publish the research findings to begin with.

B. Jambulingam, former Assistant Registrar of Tamil University, who has discovered around 50 Buddha statues in Tamil Nadu, and V. Geetha, writer and researcher, inaugurated Tamil Buddha Araichi Palli in Madurai recently.