The Tamil Nadu government, after playing host to the second informal India-China summit in Mamallapuram last month, is planning to carry out a mega project to promote tourism in the world-famous heritage town.
The hint in this regard was said to have come from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Monday evening, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami met Governor Banwarilal Purohit to discuss the broad contours of the proposed project.
Considering the town’s strong links with Buddhism, the project would include installation of a statue of Buddha, apart from one of Bodhidharma, according to a source privy to the development.
A Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, who was said to have lived in the 8th Century C.E., went to China and Japan to propagate, in the words of veteran archaeologist R.Nagaswamy, ‘Dhyana Marga Buddhism.’
Buddhist circuit
Referring to reports of a Buddhist circuit being formed, Dr. Nagaswamy says Poompuhar or Kaveripoompattinam should be included in the proposed circuit as it was “the most important Buddhist place” in the State.
In the 1960s, when the Archaeological Survey of India carried out excavations, it found remains of a “Buddha Viharam” (monastery), and a “Buddha Chaitya” (temple), apart from beautiful images of Buddha and Bodhisattva, another monk. Nagapattinam should be another place, Dr. Nagaswamy adds.
