Karumadikkuttan

Karumadikkuttan is the nickname of a Buddha statue located at Karumady,a beautiful village, near Alappuzha in Kerala state, India. The name translates to “boy from Karumady.” This 3-foot-tall statue, made of black granite and believed to date from the 9th to 14th century, was long abandoned in a nearby stream known as “Karumady thodu.” In the 1930s, British engineer Sir Robert Bristow discovered the statue and took measures to ensure its protection. Today, it is safeguarded by the Kerala state government. Notably, the statue is missing a portion on its left side, and the reasons behind this damage continue to spark historical debate.

According to the Travancore State Manual, the idol of Karumadikkuttan is identified as that of a Jain Tirthankara, reflecting the artistic style typical of Jain sculpture.