Kavaratti [monastery?], (on) Kavaratti Is., Lakshadweep, IN

Raw data

"Lakshadweep - History and Geography
Not much is known about the early history of these islands. The islands that were supposed to have been inhabited first are Amini, Andrott, Kavaratti, and Agatti. It was earlier believed that the islanders were originally Hindus, and later converted to Islam under the influence of Arab traders, sometime in the 14th century. But Archaeological evidences unearthed indicate that there were Buddhist settlements around the 6th or 7th century. Earliest Muslim converts or settlers pre-date the year 139 AH of the Hijra year (eighth century), of which period grave stones have recently been discovered in Agatti."
http://india.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php?id=35

"Early history of Lakhswadeep is unwritten. Local traditions attribute the first settlement on these Islands to the period of Cheraman Perumal, the last king of Kerala. It is believed that the first settlers were hindus/ Buddhists. Even now unmistakable Hindu social stratification exists in these Islands. Buddhist archaeological remains are also found in Kavaratti and Andrott Islands. 
Cultural and social Influence from the mainland state of Kerala had a deep impact on the inhabitants of the Islanders. Greek, Roman and Arab sailors used to visit the Islands for collecting boatloads of cowries and tortoise-shell for commerce.
Missionary activity in the 7th century AD and continued contact with Arab traders eventually led to the conversion of all the islanders to Islam."
http://www.laccadive.in/laccadive_history.htm

[Islands of Lakshadweep are [listed N to S]: Chetlat, Kiltan, Bitra, Bangaram, Kadmat, Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Minicoy - tmciolek, 17 Sep 2012]

"Originally Theravada Buddhist, the [Laccadives] islanders are today Sunni Muslims of the Shafi'i madhab. They were probably converted [to Islam] in the mid-6th/12th century." - Gibb (1999:587)

"… varieties of pottery, Roman coins and Buddha heads were recovered at Androth, Kadmat, Kavaratti and Minicoy." (Tripati 2009)

Input by: tmciolek, Sep 17, 2012

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 05 Aug 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 2 km from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Kavaratti monastery?, IN.

General location of the Kavaratti monastery?, IN.
Lat 10.5649 Long 72.6414
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.5649+72.6414+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Kavaratti%20monastery?,%20IN)&ll=10.5649,72.6414&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Kavaratti [monastery?]

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • India: Union Territory of Lakshadweep

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 10.5649 Long 72.6414 - based on visual identification of the Kavaratti settlement in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 17 Sep 2012.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village

  • [missing data]

7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

8. The settlement's coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 10.5649 Long 72.6414 - tmciolek, 17 Sep 2012.

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Theravada - Gibb (1999:587)

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

MBM chrono-tag 0500-32p 0533-66p 0567-99p 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p - tmciolek 05 Aug 2013
0500-32p 0533-66p 0567-99p 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p 0700-32p dated-el


12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

MBM chrono-tag 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p 0700-32p - tmciolek 05 Aug 2013


14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • archaeological

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

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