Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates 鈥業mportance of Dhanyakataka as a capital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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Importance of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 as a capital
In the 12th鈥�13th century C.E 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 was the seat of power of the local chiefs, who owed their allegiance to the Kaka峁璱yas in the Yenamadala inscription of Ganapamba. The town is referred as Dhanyankapura, identified with 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补[1]. Even as late as 14th century C.E 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 maintained its importance and 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 retained its existence. This is proved by the Ga岣峚l膩deniya rock inscription (1344 C.E) of Dharmmak墨rtti (dist. Kandy, Ceylon). Dharmmak墨rtti is credited for the restoration of two storeyed image house at 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补[2].
Detailed description of Dharmmak墨rtti鈥檚 worship of 18 cubit high stone image of Buddha in the stone built 惫颈丑腻谤补 which he restored in 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 is preserved in the Saddarmmaratn膩kara, written by Vimalakirtti, the pupil of Dharmmak墨rtti. This is the last mentioned document of the Buddhist establishment at 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨. After this, Buddhism ceased to retain its vitality and Amre艣vara (艢补峁僢丑耻) gradually appropriated the position once enjoyed by the 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 at 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补.
The above mentioned data undoubtedly prove the longevity of 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 from 4th century B.C.E to 14th century C.E. It is undeniable that the exquisite sculptures in the monastic site enhanced the beauty of the religious complex and in turn made it a significant art centre of early 础苍诲丑谤补诲别艣补. The longevity of the art centre of 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 in comparison to the contemporary adjacent art centres is a complicated problem. It may be suggested that the problem of the survival of the ornate monastic complex of 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 can be studied in the background of the continued importance of the region of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补/Dhara峁噄ko峁璦. In fact the importance of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 as a capital and megacity over a long period of time contributed greatly to the flourish of the 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补. Thus the reason for the continued importance of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 may be investigated in order to unravel the problem of the survival of the art centre 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨. In this regard it may be stated that 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 enjoyed several advantages in comparison to the other neibouring archaeological sites. Several factors may be identified which contributed greatly to the strategic significance of the region which in turn helped in the longevity of the 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 at 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨.
The geographical location of the region was conducive for the emergence of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补. It may be highlighted that the region was girdled by forest and river. Having the combined advantage of a 痴补苍补诲奴谤驳补 (颁丑颈迟谤补尘奴濒补 dhvaja 谤腻苍测补) and 闯补濒补诲奴谤驳补 with maritime trade, industry and cultural contacts with other countries, it became a strategic centre, politically as well as commercially[3]. It became a prestigious seat of political authority of various dynasties of Andhra from pre-Christian era. In fact from the early centuries before the Christian era the history of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 was closely interwoven with political development. During the reign of the Sadas, 厂腻迟补惫腻丑补苍补蝉, Iksv膩kus, Pallavas, Vi峁ａ箛uku峁囜笉ins, 艢膩la峁卥膩yanas, early 颁丑腻濒耻办测补蝉 and other royal houses till the medieval period 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 -础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 enjoyed a premier position within their territorial domain. The epigraphical and literary sources mentioned earlier confirm this.
The prosperity of the region was also favourable for the flourishing condition of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补. One of the causes for its prosperity was its trading network. It may be stated that Andhra has a sea-coast of about 400 miles and hence provided a lucratic source of trade. It is facilitated with sea ports situated at the mouths of rivers consequently offering navigational approaches for commercial activities from early times[4]. The position of 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 is at the head of the 碍峁涐梗峁嚹� delta. The 骋辞诲腻惫补谤墨 delta is not separated from the 碍峁涐梗峁嚹� delta by a great distance. So it was possible to control the 骋辞诲腻惫补谤墨 system as its position was at the head of the 碍峁涐梗峁嚹� River. In fact it may be pointed out that the 骋辞诲腻惫补谤墨 -碍峁涐梗峁嚹� delta by itself was a major centre of Early Historic sites. In deltaic zones and its peripheral zones, the major sites are N膩g膩rjunako峁囜笉a, Pe岣嶀笉avegi (ancient Veng墨), S膩taniko峁璦, 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 and Dantavaktruniko峁璦[5].
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
[3]:
Prasad P.R.K, 1991, 鈥楶re-厂腻迟补惫腻丑补苍补 Phase at 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨-Dhara峁噄ko峁璦鈥�, Op.cit, p 329.
[5]:
Chakrabarty Dilip.K, 2006, Op.cit, p 347.