Chudamani Vihara was a Buddhism vihara (monastery) in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, India. Chudamani Vihara was constructed in 1006 CE by the king Sri Vijaya Maravijayattungavarman with the patronage of Rajaraja Chola I.Keay, John, India: A History, pp 222-223 The vihara building survived in dilapidated condition. Since 1856, about 350 Buddha bronzes have been found at Nagapattinam, dating from the 11th to the 16th century.
One statue, now at John D. Rockefeller Collection of Asian Art in New York, has an inscription that mentions that this Buddha was created to be carried in a procession during the temple’s sacred festival. The inscription has been translated by Vidya Dehejia as:
Demolition :-
After 1870, the Chudamani Vihara, built by Raja Raja Chola I, was demolished by British Colonial authorities, despite opposition from members of Governor in Council - Elliot and Charles Traveleyn, due to pressure by Governor Napier and Christian Missionaries exiled by French Pondicherry Government.
This is subject matter of a Public Interest Litigation, filed by Advocate B. Jagannath, of the Madras High Court pertaining to repatriation of Leiden Copper Plates from Netherlands to India
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