Lower K峁涐梗峁嚹� Valley (2): Bha峁弓iprolu

Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology

by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words

This page relates 鈥楲ower Krishna Valley (2): Bhattiprolu鈥� of the study on Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology, including museum exhibitions of the major archeological antiquities. These pages show how the Buddhist establishment of Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) survived from 4th century BCE to 14th century CE. It includes references and translations of episodes of Buddha鈥檚 life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.

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Lower K峁涐梗峁嚹� Valley (2): Bha峁弓iprolu

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[Location: Bha峁弓iprolu (Lat 1606鈥橬, Long 800 47 E Repalle Taluk, Gun峁璾r District)]

The 蝉迟奴辫补 of Bha峁璱prolu [Bha峁弓iprolu] was one of the magnificent brick structures of early Andhradesa. Once a massive 蝉迟奴辫补, probably next to 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨, it is presently an irregular mass of brickwork with concentric courses of bricks. The mound (locally called Lanja-dibb膩) was reported by Boswell (1870)^[1] and then referred by Walter Elliot in a letter printed in Government Proceedings of 7^th June, 1871. A. Rea (1892)^[2] made excavation of the ruined mass and succeeded in tracing the plan of the 蝉迟奴辫补. Regarding the plan H. Sarkar opined that the 蝉迟奴辫补 exhibited a wheel shaped ground plan which probably first began in Bha峁弓iprolu^[3]. Many important objects were also discovered from the site. Among them mention may be made of three inscribed votive caskets which contain a stone and crystal reliquaries with jewels (PL 5d).

Like 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补, the relics of Bha峁弓iprolu contain Buddha鈥檚 bone receptacles (艢补谤颈谤补诲丑腻迟耻). The solid dome at Bha峁弓iprolu measure 132 feet in diameter. The top of the drum measured 148 feet in diameter. Around the base of the dome was a terrace 8 feet wide. The height of the drum was 8 feet. The drum had four projected 腻测补办补蝉 with 腻测补办补 pillars. Around the base of the drum was a processional path measuring 8 feet 4 inch wide.

From the inscriptions discovered from the site it appears that some individuals and a King Kuberaka made donations to the 蝉迟奴辫补. From the inscription it appears that the date of the 蝉迟奴辫补 is not later than 200 B.C.E^[4].