Buddha of Pallavaram

It is often stated that Chennai has only one Buddha temple inside the Maha Bodhi Society in Egmore. However, actually, there are a few other Buddhist temples in and around Chennai. This article focuses on one such lesser-known Buddhist temple.

In Zamin Pallavaram, the southern suburb of Chennai, amidst the narrow and highly congested lanes, there stands a hillock called Periyamalai or Pallavanmalai. In the early 2010s, a two and half feet high stone image of Buddha was installed atop the hill. The locals call it Arulnidhi Buddhar Aalayam. 

It is about half a km trek on a slightly steep hillock. Inside a not-so-dense forest, Buddha's image is found. There is no temple-like structure. 

Buddha is seated in Vajrasana posture (with his legs crosses and the soles of both his feet turned up). His right arm is in Vitarka mudra (with his thumb and forefinger brought together). His left arm is in chin mudra. His left shoulder is covered with a monastic robe. Although it is not an old sculpture, it is artistically done and looks beautiful.

Happy travelling.