Minicoy monastery, (on) Minicoy 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)

"Buddhist remains have been also found in Minicoy Island, then part of the Maldive Kingdom, by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), in the latter half of the 20th century. Among these remains a Buddha head and stone foundations of a Vihara deserve special mention. […]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Maldives

"Minicoy […] History
There are ancient remains in an area of the island known as "Salliballu" dating back from Minicoy's Buddhist past, about 800 years ago. The most conspicuous archaeological sites are two mounds or large heaps of ruins belonging to a stupa and another related structure. These sites were investigated by the Archaeological Survey of India in the 1980s. The excavations yielded few discoveries, for the sites had been much damaged and vandalized previously. Still, a much-damaged large Buddha head was found buried in the area. The name "Salliballu" originated in the local name for the "Christian cross", because the locals say that an inscription with a "cross" was found there. But it is likely that, coming from a Buddhist site, it was a cross-shaped Mandala or Visvavajra, like those often found on inscriptions in archaeological remains in the Maldives.[5]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minicoy

Input by: tmciolek, Sep 17, 2012

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 03 Oct 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 Minicoy monastery, IN.

General location of the Minicoy monastery, IN.
Lat 8.2875 Long 73.0633
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2012.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=8.2875+73.0633+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Minicoy%20monastery,%20IN)&ll=8.2875,73.0633&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Minicoy 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 8.2875 Long 73.0633 - based on visual identification of the Minicoy 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


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

8. The settlement's coordinates

  • Approx., Lat 8.2875 Long 73.0633 - 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 03 Oct 2013
0500-32p 0533-66p 0567-99p 0600-32p 0633-66p 0667-99p 0700-32p 0733-66p 0767-99p 0800-32p 0833-66p 0867-99p 0900-32p 0933-66p 0967-99p 1000-32p 1033-66p 1067-99p dated-el


12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

MBM chrono-tag 1000-32p 1033-66p 1067-99p - tmciolek 03 Oct 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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