Bodhidharma, buzzword recently around India, including me, because of the film 7zham Arvivum (Seventh Sense), where Suriya acted as Bodhidharma, directed by A.R.Murugadoss. Bodhidharma was not totally forgotten in India, after watching the film, I started researching, why Indians did not remember him, why we lost him, is everything true told in the film?
- We did not forget Bodhidharma, Before this film was released, there were many reference in Indian sites which talk about Bodhidharma, Fact is he was less known in India.
- When we remember great Thiruvalluvar (2nd century BC - 8th century AD), why Bodhidharma (5th century AD) was forgotten ? Bodhidharma did not contribute to India, his education was in India, but his medical, defence, art talents were all to China, whereas Thirukural is classic of couplets by Thiruvalluvar.
- Did we loose only Bodhidharma ? No, Everyone knows about Siddhar Boganathar, we have him in many temples even now in South India. He is well known in China as, "Bo-Yang", "Lao-Tzu", founder of Taoism, he is frequent traveller to China to teach and spread his knowledge.
- Why do we still remember Bogar? its because of his contributions to Indians. Lord Murugan Status in Palani, is to be made by Bogar himself. It is also said, that Bogar helped Engineers who built Lord Brihadeeswarar Temple with his ideas to lift tons of stone to a remarkable height.
I am not against the film, but the way it is projected, as if we forgot our ancestors, which is not the case. I agree that our skills, learning are all slowly lost in this modern world, but there exist a group which is still researching on this topic to bring them back, 7zham arivu is one milestone in bringing it back. After this film, Bodhidharma will only be known as a person born in Kanchipuram and left to China, but he wont be one reason to be proud of, because we are already proud to be Indian for lot more reasons.
20 minutes is not enough to talk about Bodhidharma, some strange facts about him
- He lived for 150 Years
- He was seen alive after 3 years of his death
- He cut his eye-lid to stay awake during meditation
- He practiced meditation for 9 continuous years facing a wall
- He failed to make a favorable impression in southern china and then traveled to northern china
