Buddhism in the Maldives

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Historic Maldivian Buddhist statue, on display in Sri Lanka National Museum in Colombo 2011.
Green Tara, a Vajrayana
Buddhist female deity representing enlightened activity and fearlessness.

Buddhism was the predominant religion in the Maldives until at least the 12th century CE. It is not clear how and when Buddhism was introduced into the islands.[1]

Archaeology

Western interest in the archaeological remains of early cultures on the Maldives began with the work of

Dhivehi: ހަވިއްތަ) by the Maldivians, which are found on many of the atolls.[2]

Although Bell claimed that the ancient

Theravada Buddhism in the same manner as their Sinhalese ancestors from neighboring Sri Lanka,[2] Maldivian Buddhist archaeological remains that were preserved in the Malé Museum display in fact Mahayana and Vajrayana iconography.[3]

According to a legend of the

Giravaaru
who claim ancestry from ancient Tamils. It is unlikely that the Giraavaru islanders were the only early settlers in the Maldives. The importance they have been given is because they are mentioned in the legend about the establishment of the capital and kingly rule in Malé. The Giraavaru people were just one of the island communities predating Buddhism and the arrival of a Northern Kingly dynasty and the establishment of centralized political and administrative institutions.

The ancient Maldivian Kings promoted Buddhism and the first Maldive writings and artistic achievements in the form of highly developed sculpture and architecture are from that period. The conversion to Islam is mentioned in the ancient edicts written in copper plates from the end of the 12th century AD. The Isdhū Lōmāfānu and the Dhanbidhū Lōmāfānu copperplates describe the transition. There is also a locally well-known legend about a foreign saint (Persian or Moroccan according to differing versions) who subdued a demon known as Rannamaari.

Over the centuries, the islands have been visited and their development influenced by sailors and

Mappila pirates from the Malabar Coast
harassed the islands.

2012 vandalism of Buddhist sculptures

In February 2012, a group of Islamic extremists forced their way into the National Museum in Malé and attacked the museum's collection of pre-Islamic sculptures, destroying or severely damaging nearly the entire collection of about thirty Buddhist sculptures dating from the 6th to 12th centuries.[4] Museum staff indicated that as the sculptures were made from very brittle coral or limestone it would be impossible to repair most of them, and only two or three pieces were in a repairable condition.[4]

The Fua Mulaku Havitta, by H.C.P. Bell, in 1922.

See also

References

  1. ^ Maniku, H. A. (1986). CONVERSION OF MALDIVES TO ISLAM. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Sri Lanka Branch, 31, 72–81.
  2. ^
    HCP Bell
    , The Máldive Islands: An account of the Physical Features, History, Inhabitants, Productions and Trade. Colombo 1883
  3. ^ a b Bajas, Vikas (13 February 2012). "Vandalism at Maldives Museum Stirs Fears of Extremism". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2023.

External links