Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates 鈥楲ower Krishna Valley (12): Ramatirtham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.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Lower K峁涐梗峁嚹� Valley (12): 搁腻尘补迟墨谤迟丑补m
[Location: 搁腻尘补迟墨谤迟丑补m (Lat 18010鈥橬 Long 830 30鈥橢, Vi艣膩kh膩patnam District)]
The site [搁腻尘补迟墨谤迟丑补m/搁腻尘补迟墨谤迟丑补] is located about 13 km to the north-west of Vizianagram in the Vi艣膩kh膩pa峁璶am district. To the north of the 搁腻尘补迟墨谤迟丑补m village is a chain of hills of which Gurubhaktako峁囜笉a contains the ruins of a number of Buddhist structures on its top (PL 9c)[1].
This site was first noted by R. Sewell and in 1910 several Buddhist edifices were discovered. These remains established the religious importance of the place[2].
Among several Buddhist antiquities discovered from the site the 惭补丑腻蝉迟奴辫补 was the most notable establishment. It is 65 feet in diameter. However, only the base of the 蝉迟奴辫补 has survived. To the east of the main 蝉迟奴辫补 is a higher terrace with rows of brick monastic cell. To the east of the staircase leading to the lower terrace is a damaged hall with monolithic pillars. Beyond this 尘补峁囜笉补辫补 lies four 肠补颈迟测补驳峁沨补蝉. The votive 蝉迟奴辫补 inside two of them has survived[3].
Among other findings mention may be made of a lead coin and six clay seals. One of the seal bears an inscription with the legend 鈥�Siri S [i] vama [Ka?]-Vijayaraja-selasaghasa鈥� bearing characters of 2nd century C.E. In this inscription Sivamaka Vijayar膩ja is generally identified with Sivamaka Sada of the 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 record. Thus it can be postulated that the establishment was probably patronized by Sivamaka Sada[4] and the Buddhist sect of the 艢补颈濒补蝉. Very close to the structure is a tank which possibly was constructed for the collection of rain water.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid, p 220.
[2]:
Das D. Jithendra, Op. cit, p 49