Buddhism disappeared from Tamil Nadu?

Reflections on Ancient Buddhist links with Indian State on Navam Fullmoon day

Tamizhagam, which means a land where Tamil is spoken and Sri Lanka, enjoyed very close ties for over 12 centuries. The present Tamil Nadu is much smaller than the Tamizhagam. Historians believe Buddhism began to flourish there in the 3rd century AD. 
Former Chairman of Associated Newspapers of Ceylon, Luxman Jayawardene writing to ‘Mihintalaawa’ in 2003 says, ‘Buddhism flourished in Tamil Nadu in two phases. (1) The early years of Pallava rule (400-650 AD) and (2) The Chola period (mid 9th to early 14th century AD). Buddhism had then enjoyed a very remarkable popularity in the Tamil soil.’
Although Buddhism has become almost extinct from Tamil Nadu, it has contributed a great deal to the enrichment of Tamil culture and has exerted a significant influence, both directly and indirectly, on the Tamil religious and spiritual consciousness, present as well as past.

South India and Sri Lanka: Shared interest in Buddhism for over ten Centuries.

A. Mylvaganam, BA [Lond] says, “It was almost inborn nature among the Tamils to absorb anything that was lofty and worthy of adopting no matter from what source it came. Buddha was born a Hindu. He studied the moral codes of Hinduism and closely observed the practice of the various religious rites such as sacrifices etc., he found that they were wrong, so he had to rebel against the wrong practice of the Hindus and hence based his teachings on non-killing or Ahimsa. The Tamil mind had no difficulty in understanding him.  His teachings were accepted wholeheartedly and thus Buddhism became implanted on South Indian soil.” – ‘Ceylon Buddhist Review’ – vol.1: Jan 15, 1942 [courtesy- National Arch.]
The inscription, the rock-cut chetiyas and the ancient caves of the monks together with a vast amount of Buddhist literature in Tamil all remain even to this day to remind us of the influence Buddhism exercised over the Tamil country over the times past. There is no doubt that Buddhism flourished side by side with Jainism and Hinduism in the early centuries of the Christian era.
But there were sound reasons for its decline in later years. Still, the fact remains that Hinduism has absorbed a very high percentage of Buddhism and vice versa. It is sorrowful to note that most of the present day Tamils are ignorant of the fact that Buddhism was embraced by their forefathers’ long time ago. 

King Asoka’s Rock Edicts

Now it is up to us to find out to what extent Buddhism and custodians of this religion have contributed to the advancement of Tamil literature and Eastern philosophy. King Asoka’s rock Edict no. III of 258 B.C. speaks about the religious conquest  made by him in the Tamil land. [Chola, Paandia and Kerala] and the Thambapanni. The Chinese traveller of the 7th century Hieun Tsang makes mention of the Buddhist temples that existed in Madurai and Kanchi in early times. There are still villages  near Madurai and Thiruchchirappalli which abound in mountain caves once occupied by  Buddhist monks. The Dhamma were preached by Bikkhus in temples and public places, and as a result more people became Buddhists. Earlier the cast-ridden people least realized their folly of estimating the position of individual by birth. They now began to learn that greatness depended on character and not on birth.There are Indian scholars who believe that Aritta or Maha-Aritta, a nephew of the Sri Lankan king Devanampiyatissa lived in the village of Arittapatti in Madura, Tamil Nadu. 
According to Dr. Shu Hikosake, Professor of Buddhism, Institute of Asian Studies in Madras (now Chennai), contrary to the general view of Arahat Mahinda Thera’s mission, Buddhism  moved to Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu by sea-route, a route by which one could reach Ceylon easily.
A vast field of literature has also been produced in Tamil by the learned Buddhists of those days, these  include Manimekhala, Silapatthikaram and Neelakesi which instruct the Hindu in the fundamentals of Buddhist philosophy.

Reasons for Decline 

It is worth finding out the reasons for the later decline of Buddhism in the Tamil land. Side-by-side with Buddhism there were Hinduism, Brahmanism, Jainism and other smaller  sects all flourishing there. Later on  there was a decline in the practice of this religion. Different sects began to separate themselves from the religion and disagree in their specialities though in their main principles there was general acceptance. It started with Heenayana and Mahayana then Stravagayana and Mantrayana branched out. It did not stop at that; still more divisions. Then the Charya or conduct of Bikkhus which was more mundane than otherwise was another reason for its  decline.  There is no doubt that there were onslaughts by the Jainas of Kanchi headed by Akalanka .  There was yet another blow by the beginning of the 8th century, the Bhakti movement of Hinduism and Vaishnayism  made headway. This seriously hampered the progress of Buddhism. In spite of all these obstructions  Buddhism continued to exist.  

"The inscription, the rock-cut chetiyas and the ancient caves of the monks together with a vast amount of Buddhist literature in Tamil all remain even to this day to remind us of the influence Buddhism exercised over the Tamil country over the times past"

There is evidence in Mahavamsa  to show that King Parakramabahu II [1266] sent for Bikkhus from the Chola country to accelerate  the progress of Buddhist faith  in Lanka.  This indicates that even as late as the 13th century there was at least a colony of Buddhists in the Chola country. It should also be known that, at the time of its decline, the other religions, especially, Saivism and Vaishanamism did not separate themselves into different sects as they did later.  Hence  they predominated while  Buddhism declined.
The Buddhist monks moved towards the neighbouring countries. They found greener pastures in Sri Lanka and other South East Asian countries. When Buddhism was in decline in Tamil State, a remarkable growth in Buddhism in the neighbouring countries was witnessed. The Tamil monks  who left their Home State have rendered a great service to the spread of Religion. Tamil Buddhist intellects changed their direction and worked with dynamism and enthusiasm.
Although Buddhism has become almost extinct in Tamil Nadu, it has contributed a great deal to the enrichment of Tamil culture and has exerted a significant influence, both directly and indirectly, on the Tamil religious and spiritual consciousness, at present as well as in the past.