There were news flow regarding the article in the Hindu Published last saturday, regarding the excavation of Budha statues by ASI. Dr.Rajavelu also talked about this last saturday during our Maria meet. It was quite interesting.
But, in today's Hindu, in the letters to the editor column, one gentleman (forgot the name) has written that those two are not Budha statues but of Jaina thirthankars. He clearly mentions about the features seen in Budha status which is missing from the photos published and also tells that the thirthankar statues have some (one is tiger and other is sangu I think) the pedestal he says one is Mahavira and other thirthankars name I dont remember.
Any comments on this? Whom to belive ASI or a person who points out specifics and deny's the ASI finding?
the person who has raised the question is a respected journalist and writer theodore bhaskeran he writes on a variety of things I remember seeing an article of his on buddhist panels i thanjavur periya temple earlier too
just 2 things budhar silanaalE contreversy thaanaa? if you guys want to se a thithankara statue, theres one in west annanagar/ mogappair road.( on the way to the venkatachalapathy temple there) i was once told that was perhaps the oldest thing in chennai city
S. Theodore Baskaran, a former civil servant, is Director of the Roja Muthiah Research Library. the Roja Muthiah Research Library in Chennai, the private hoard of an unconventional collector of printed material of all sorts forms the nucleus of a major research facility focussing on South Indian studies, particularly the culture and soc ial history of Tamil Nadu.
The author of several books, he was a Senior Associate of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. He writes about many subjects, history and wild life. I think he's also a good photographer His book -The Dance of the Sarus-Essays of a Wandering naturalist was very popular.
so I really think ASI needs to answer him which I think will happen mostly tomorrow in THE HINDU
Dear All The original article and theodore bhaskarans response is on chhenus link below
Thanks Venkat for elucidating Theodore Bhaskarans credentials Hes also a columnist for Hindu
Interestingly its the Same Theo Baskaran who had written an article in Hindu on Budda panels in Bigtemple which were refuted by Dr Kalaikovan as not Budda unfortunately that letter was not published in Hindu( Am I right Ram) Ram was so upset with this 'half baked' manuscript that he had commented Theo Baskaran should stop with writing reviews on movies
Well it ll be interesting to see what his response is after asi responds
in today's Hindu, in the letters to the editor column, one > gentleman (forgot the name) has written that those two are not Budha > statues but of Jaina thirthankars. He clearly mentions about the > features seen in Budha status which is missing from the photos > published and also tells that the thirthankar statues have some below > (one is tiger and other is sangu I think) the pedestal he says one > is Mahavira and other thirthankars name I dont remember.
this is what wikipedia has to say
The 24th and last Tirthankar was Mahavir Swami (599-527 BC). The historical existence of the last two Tirthankars is accepted by Scholars. Digambaras believe that all twenty four Tirthankars were men but Svetambaras believe that the 19th Tirthankar, Malli Nath, was a woman. Each Tirthankar is identified with an animal, object, or other such symbol. 1. Rishabh Dev (Adi Nath) - Bull 2. Ajit Nath - Elephant 3. Sambhav Nath - Horse 4. Abhinandan Swami - Monkey 5. Sumathi Nath - Curlew (Kraunea) 6. Padmaprabh Swami - Red Lotus 7. Suparshva Nath - Swastik 8. Chandraprabh Swami - Moon 9. Suvidhi Nath - Crocodile 10. Shithal Nath - Srivatsa 11. Shreyans Nath - Rhinoceros 12. Vasupujya Swami - Buffalo 13. Vimal Nath - Boar 14. Ananth Nath - Bear /Falcon) 15. Dharma Nath - Spike-headed Club (Vajradanda) 16. Shanthi Nath - Deer 17. Kunthu Nath - He-Goat 18. Ar Nath - Fish 19. Malli Nath - Water Pot 20. Munisuvrat Swami - Tortoise 21. Nami Nath - Blue Lotus 22. Nemi Nath - Shell (Conch) 23. Parshva Nath - Serpent 24. Mahavir Swami - Lion
the photo of 22nd Tirthankara Arishtanemi, who was said to be a cousin of Krishna has striking resemblences to three tier umbrella and girls waving fly wisks at him The Jains date him at 1450 BCE, too early for most scholarly dating for Krishna. Interestingly, at least as far as a connection to Krishna is concerned, Arishtanemi's symbol is the conch shell.
Following the controversy raised by Theodre Baskaran in the letters to the editor, regarding the Buddha statues, todays Hindu published the clarification from Dr.T.Sathyamurthy regarding the same. the following link has the details.
ASI claims that they are Buddha indeed and shows proof for the same. Did anyone from our group visited this place? I think a few are going tomorrow? Expecting a first hand information.