SAILUM

Derived from the geographical location of Srisailum hill ranges in the southern part of India.

The findings are elaborately discussed in his historical research book "Bodhidharma Retold".
Also, this unique work is a pioneering attempt to unravel the mystery around Bodhidharma, the enigmatic founder of Chan (Zen) and Shaolin Kung-Fa. The two-volume research attempts a first of its kind comprehensive study on Bodhidharma’s life and legend in both India and China – tracing his journey from a remote geographical location in the Southern part of India called Mt. Sailam, to the immensely popular Shaolin temple in Northern China.  Volume I is devoted to a study on Bodhidharma’s life in China. Contrary to the belief of certain modern scholarship that has reduced Bodhidharma to a mythical figure, the material presented first proves that historically, there lived a monk named Bodhidharma. The work then goes on to ascertain his role in importing, propagating, and essentially founding the culture of Chan (Zen) and Shaolin Kung-Fa. In a revolutionary effort, by drawing several parallels between the culture of Chan and Indian esoteric Buddhism, the study proves that Shaolin Kung-Fa finds its roots in Indian Hatha Yoga. In the process, several historical ‘black boxes’ have been scrutinized, leading to some radical findings that are certain to go against a few deep-rooted beliefs related to the life of Bodhidharma and provide a paradigm shift in this field of research.