| Temples & Legends of
Tamilnadu |
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| Temples & Legends Of
India |
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KANCHEEPURAM |
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Buddhism took deep
root in Kanchi about the Ist century A.D. Its influence began to decline in Kanchi and in
South India when there was a great awakening among the
Hindus under the Vaishnavite Azhwars, and Acharyas and Saivite Nayanmars. The lack of
royal patronage for Buddhism under the Pallavas, Cholas andVijayanagar kings greatly
undermined the vitality and popularity of this religion. However, sporadic preaching of
the principles of Buddha Dharma continued to exist till the end of the 13th century.
During Hiuen Tsang's visit, when the country was under the Pallavas, there were hundreds
of Sangharamas (Hostels) and ten thousand Thera priests. Kanchi was proud of producing
Dignaga the famous Buddhist logician, Bodhi-dharma and Dharmapala who set high standards
in the mastery of Buddhist learning. Dignaga served in Nalanda University withdistinction
and was well versed in the Mahayana and Hinayana systems and wrote many standard works,
which are admired by the Chinese, and the Japanese even today. Dharmapala abandoned
worldly life in his youth and became a great teacher at Nalanda on Buddhist logic and meta
- physics. |
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