A 10th-century headless Buddha idol carved from black stone was discovered near the Periya Kanmai irrigation tank in Avudaiyarkovil, Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu. The find was made by the Pudukkottai Archaeological Research Forum as part of a long-term field study led by researcher A. Manikandan and guided by Karu Rajendran, President of the Pudukkottai Archaeological Research Centre.
The idol, locally known as Thalai Illa Saami (headless deity), is believed by villagers to bring rain when a clay head is placed atop it. Measuring 48 cm in height and 38 cm in width, the statue features stylistic elements typical of 10th-century Buddhist art: a robe draped over the right shoulder, cloth around the waist, a broad chest, wide shoulders, three neck folds (trivali), and a right hand raised above the left palm.
Though the head is missing, locals claim it may have once been spotted in a nearby canal. The research team plans to continue their exploration to locate it.
Manikandan linked the find to the region’s rich Buddhist heritage during the Chola period. He noted that the Buddhist scholar Buddhamitra hailed from Ponpathi (ancient Ponpatri), near Avudaiyarkovil. Remnants of a moat and fort-like structure associated with Buddhamitra still exist in the area. Under Chola king Vira Rajendra, Buddhamitra authored Vīra Chozhiyam, a grammar treatise that reflects the prominence of Buddhism in the region at the time.
The discovery adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting Pudukkottai’s historical significance and its role in South India’s Buddhist past. Researchers hope further excavations will shed light on the region’s cultural and religious landscape during the Chola dynasty.
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