Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates 鈥楧onative inscriptions from Amaravati (conclusion)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.
Donative inscriptions from 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 (conclusion)
From the inscriptions from 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 it can be clearly seen that the donors came from Ujjain, Pa峁璦liputra, Vijayapura, Gha峁囜弓a艣膩l膩 and 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补. Arrival from the neighbouring region as well as from distant places also suggests popularity of the 尘补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 and the religious complex attached to it. Some other place names are found in the inscriptions whose location is unknown. These are found in the votive records. Some place names are Malamavuku, Pugaratha, Amsutalika, Akhsavada, Mandara, Kavuruara, Sethivadicha, Turulura, Kovurura, Valikacha, Sirinagica, Dhanagiri, Pukiratha, Turaghara, Hiralura, Chadakica etc.
The donative inscriptions from 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 also display a wide range of patronage. These included gahapatis, v膩峁嚹珁膩s (merchants) caravan traders (厂腻谤迟丑补惫腻丑补蝉) jewellers and bankers (丑别谤补峁噄办补蝉), lay worshippers (耻辫补蝉腻办补蝉 and 耻辫腻蝉颈办腻蝉), royal officers (笔腻苍颈测补驳丑补谤颈办补, raja lekhaka), monks and nuns and members of the royal family. Here it may be highlighted that though the epigraphs do not mention direct royal donations but it is difficult to believe that a monument with such grandeur was built without their donations. In addition to these the donations of social groups associated with different craft specialization (颁腻尘补办补谤补, 骋补苍诲丑颈办腻, Pasanik膩) and donations by relative poor section of the society reveal collective patronage.
Thus it can be suggested that the entire society made contributions for the upkeep and maintenance of the monastic complex of 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨. In addition to the local population, pilgrims from other parts of India and abroad came and made donations to the religious complex. In fact for the survival of any establishment patronage is very essential. At 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 there was no dearth of it. Moreover the position of 顿丑腻苍测补办补峁璦办补 also helped the 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 to retain its popularity.