Buddhism Book-English

COMMISSIONED BY ANDHRA PRADESH TOURISM
© ANDHRA PRADESH TOURISM

OCTOBER 2018
TEXT
DR SURAJ PANDIT
PHOTOGRAPHY
SPARSH BATRA, KUNAL JHUNJHUNWALA, MANISH KUSHWAHA
IMAGE COURTESY WIKICOMMONS
PG 6 - IM3847
PG 7 - PARTNER
PG 8 - PHOTO OF ASI MONUMENT NUMBER N-AP-125 BY AITIJHYA
PG 9 - SRIHARSHA WIKI
PG 10 - BHASKARANAIDU, DDALBIEZ
PG 17 - BHASKARANAIDU
PG 20-21 - IM3847
PG 22-23 - BHASKARANAIDU, IM3847, SOHAM BANERJEE
PG 24-25 - BHASKARANAIDU
PG 31- ADITYAMADHAV83, SRICHAKRA PRANAV
PG 7, 11, 45, 51, 58-59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 72, 73, 75, 76, 77, 88, 89, 97 - ADITYAMADHAV83
PG 46-47 - VEDARADHA, SAILKO
PG 52, 56 - PHOTO OF ASI MONUMENT NUMBER N-AP-134-F
AND PHOTO OF ASI MONUMENT NUMBER N-AP-134 BY NANDIGN
PG 64 - MICHAEL GUNTHER
PG 65 - BISWARUP GANGULY
PG 66-67 - SAILKO
PG 68 - SABYK2001 AND AYAN MUKHERJEE
PG 69 - SABYK2001
PG 78, 79, 80 - PHOTOS OF ASI MONUMENT NUMBER N-AP-123 AND N-AP-122 BY GEORGE PUVVADA
PG 81 - PHOTO OF ASI MONUMENT NUMBER N-AP-122 BY GEORGE PUVVADA, VENKATESH BAGADI
PG 82-83 - REHEMNUDDIN
PG 88-89 - R M CHITTA
PG 96 - PRATISH KHEDEKAR
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B U D D H I S T S I T E S I N A N D H R A P R A D E S H
MONUMENTAL SITES 06
C O N T
CHANDAVARAM 38
ADURRU 14 DANTHAPURI 42
AMARAVATI 16 ERRAVARAM 44
ANUPU 24 GHANTASALA 46
BAVIKONDA 26 GUDIVADA 48
BHATTIPROLU 32 GUNTUPALLI 52
BUDDHAM 36 JAGGAYYAPETA 58
E N T S
KODAVALI 60 ARUGOLANU, ERRAGUDI,
KOTTURU DHANADIBBALU 62 GOLI, GOPALAPATNAM,
NAGARJUNAKONDA 64 GUMMADIDURRU,
PAVURALAKONDA 70 KORUKONDA/ KAPAVARAM,
RAMATEERTHAM 74 NANDALUR, NANDAYAPALEM,
SALIHUNDAM 78 PEDDA GANJAM, PEDDAMUDIYAM,
SANKARAM 84 RAMPA ERRAMPALEM,
THOTLAKONDA 92 VADDAMANU 98
A M A R AVAT I S T U PA
THOTLAKONDA
6 SOUL SITES BUDDHIST SITE S IN AN D HR A P R AD E SH
MONUMENTAL SITES







            















Pradesh, in the 3rd century BCE and flourished










7
          



























2nd-1st century BCE. What is significant
along trade routes with traders and their influence







SOUL SITES BU D D H IS T S IT E S IN A N D H R A P R A D E S H 9
traders and merchants, who

contributed their services voluntarily
for the upkeep of the Buddhist aramas.
This was the period when Buddhist
settlements at Amaravati, Jaggayyapeta,
Nagarjunakonda, Salihundam,
Guntupalli, Gummadidurru,
Ghantasala, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda
and more became renowned pilgrimage
centres.
The rise of Indo-Roman trade changed economic The reign of the Satavahanas was
equations and gave further fillip to Buddhist activities. followed by the reign of the Ikshvakus –
Traders were active on both land and sea routes, considered one of the greatest patrons
resulting in the formation of two important inland of Buddhism in the region. In fact,
trade routes in ancient India – Uttarapatha in the the Satavahana and Ikshvaku periods
Ganga and Yamuna river valleys and Dakshinapatha together constitute the golden age of
in the Godavari and Krishna river valleys – a network Buddhist monasteries in the history of
that connected western ports with eastern commercial Andhradesa.
centres.
The Satavahanas, who rose to power in the
backdrop of Indo-Roman trade, patronised Buddhism
and their significant second capital, Dhanyakatana,
identified as modern Dharanikota, a village in Guntur
district of Andhra Pradesh, rose as a commercial
and political centre and led to the establishment
of numerous Buddhist monastic settlements in the
region. Inscriptions of donations given by royal
family members and noblemen during the reigns
of Vasishthiputra Satakarni, Shivaskanda Satakarni
and Gautamiputra Yajnashree Satakarni have been
found at Amaravati. Amaravati inscriptions are of
special importance because they also mention that
senagopas (army commanders), raja lekhakas (royal
scribes), paniya-gharika (superintendent of water
houses), sarthavahakas (caravan leaders), heranikas
(treasurers and bankers), stone workers (pasanikas),
cowherds (mahagopalakas), cobblers (charmakaras),
The first cluster of major Buddhist 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 absence of significant political support or patronage
 
 
 








 
 
 
 
 influence from Gandhara and Mathura art on one
 
 
 




In the first three centuries of the Common
Era, first Amaravati, and later Nagarjunakonda,
were not just religious centres that flourished in

but also emerged as significant centres of art.







influences here were mainly from eastern Buddhist 
 
 
 figures on display in the archaeological
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
R E M N A N T O F T H E A M A R AVAT I S T U PA

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 world. It is believed that the first stupa was constructed in 
  

 

 






 

     








from numerous inscriptions found here, the site flourished













 




















































the decay has taken place in the last two centuries due to
unscientific archaeological excavations. A local zamindar,
while digging for building material, had also found a stone
box containing a crystal casket, inside which was a small
pearl and some leaves of gold.
The ruins of the Amaravati stupa first came to light
in 1797, when Major Colin Mackenzie came across a
huge construction of bricks. Later, several excavations
were carried out, each uncovering a wealth of sculptures
and other relics. About 500 pieces of sculpture, salvaged
from time to time, have found a place in the museums
of London, Kolkata, Paris and Hyderabad as well as the
Archaeological Museum at Amaravati.





There were five 














period, Amaravati remained a significant
































 




 





 
 


• Boating facility in small fishing

 





 









empire that once flourished in South India. Deriving its






































The most significant discovery among excavated remains










is believed to have flourished for two


















B H AT T I P R O L U
A centrally-protected monument of national importance,
Bhattiprolu’s Buddhist stupa has been dated to the 3rd
century BCE. Like those of Amaravati and Jaggayyapeta
in the lower valley region of River Krishna, the brick-built
holy relic here is believed to be pre-Satavahana in origin
and associated with Emperor Ashoka.
Unlike other Buddhist centres in Andhra Pradesh –
located either in areas that have a perennial supply of
water or on mountain tops that offer panoramic views
– the Bhattiprolu site is on flat land, 60 kilometres from
Machilipatnam. It can be inferred from inscriptions that in
the later Satavahana-Ikshvaku period, Bhattiprolu, known
earlier as Pratipalapura, was an flourishing centre of inland
trade and commerce – a hinterland of Machilipatnam
which was then an important metropolis of Indo-Roman
trade in the Andhra region.
16.1038° N
80.7845° E
Bhattiprolu probably represents the

earliest form of the chaityagriha. Spread
over an area of 1,422 square metres and
once covered with decorated slabs, the
present height of the site’s ruined stupa is
about 14 feet.
After excavations in 1892, archaeologist
Alexander Rea, reported the stupa to be
star-shaped, with a hollowed centre and
a diameter of approximately 44 metres.
A later excavation, however, reported the
stupa’s diameter as 47 metres with the
remains of viharas also attached to it. Each
of the two wings of the viharas had sets of
four rooms measuring 2.75x18 metres.
Evidence also points to the existence
of a common front verandah, an entrance
from the east and a square cell with semi-
circular walls on three sides. The bricks
with which the mahachaitya was built were
45x30x8 centimetres, with dome masonry
in receding concentric circles. Ayaka
platforms mounted on pillars marked the
four cardinal points besides a 1.3-metre-
wide pradakshinapath. Remains of a railing
have also been noticed around the stupa.
Several interesting artefacts were found during the
first phase of excavation, including three inscribed votive
caskets. Each of the caskets contained a stone and crystal
reliquary with relics and jewels – gold flowers, beads, semi-
precious stones and crystals.
The most significant discovery at Bhattiprolu, however,
is a inscribed crystal relic casket with the sarira dhatu of
the Buddha. Besides establishing Bhattiprolu’s stature as
a mahachaitya, the discovery also offers one of the earliest
inscriptional evidence of the Brahmi script in South India.
Historians have concluded that this southern variety of
the Ashokan Brahmi alphabets – named the Bhattiprolu
Alphabet – is what gave birth to the Telugu and Kannada
scripts.
Other significant relics unearthed during excavation
includes a stucco head of Buddha – indicating the influence
of Mahayana Buddhism of a later date – a stone sculpture
of Nagarjuna in a seated posture, triratnas, 24 small coins
engraved with triratnas and a sacred pada encircled by a
naga.
BRIEFLY
• Bhattiprolu stupa is in Guntur

district.
• The nearest railway station is
Bhattiprolu (~1 km) while the
nearest airport is Vijayawada
(~59 km). APSRTC buses are
available from Tenali and Repalle
via Bhattiprolu.
• The site is maintained and
preserved by the Archaeological
Survey of India.
• Hotels and lodges providing
accommodation are available at
Guntur city, ~55 km away.








Amaravati Museum while a large hoard of bronze Buddhist


Composed of 15 bronze Buddhist images, mostly
statuettes or parts of small figures, the craft style of the
Buddhapad Hoard, as it is known, greatly influenced

















display lion friezes usually found on Buddhist rail pillars.







discovered a gold ring large enough to fit three fingers.
























Chandavaram is not definitely known, it is presumed that



chosen the hill of Singarakonda, five kilometres from the

















in order to differentiate scenes and stories. Buddha’s first













  
 
  



 
 
  
 
 

 
there is harmony in the human figure, with
 


Twenty-five kilometres from Srikakulam town and ten




















 





 


ERRAVARAM
Excavations on a hillock on the eastern side
of Erravaram village, located on the banks
of River Yeleru, have revealed historic
remains that date back to 100 CE. The
excavated remains include a group of caves,
rock-cut cisterns, viharas, stupas, a pillared
congregation hall and a mahastupa, besides
early historic period pottery.
•



 



 





        

modification of Kantakasaila, the ancient name of the

geographer, had made specific mention of an emporium










The most important find in Ghantasala is a stupa that


finds reference in Prakrit inscriptions of Nagarjunakonda






into its final form in the 2nd century CE, during the period









inscribed with the 12 constellations of the zodiac. The




















Archaeological finds prove that both the
Hinayana and Mahayana sects flourished













 

 




 



 


 







The existence of this stupa was first brought to the


























several lead coins, beads of various shapes and sizes and


particularly interesting since it bears the figure of a Roman


















 





 









Some of the finest specimens of monolithic and structural








facade is also defined by ornamental rafts that resemble the







is largely defined by a series of cells of varying dimensions.


a natural fissure behind the monastery.


 
composed of five crudely- 
excavated and unfinished cells with a façade that has been 
 
 
votive stupas which by shape, size and mode of construction 
 
 
 
 
 
terrace and approached by a long flight of stone steps, is a 
 
 
 

 



 




 



 










 



        




 is filled with a two-feet-thick layer of

























to the first phase of the Amaravati stupa, ~ 200 BCE.

most intriguing and significant is the one representing a


figure of the Chakravartin is shown with square coins




 
 




 

 
KODAVALI
The Kodavali Buddhist site comprises a vihara complex, a
pillared hall, rock-cut water cisterns and a mahastupa. The
boudharama here belongs to the Satavahana period, with
some scholars attributing the construction of its mahastupa
to Gouthami Putra Yagnasri, the last Satavahana king.
Another school of scholars suggest that the mahastupa is
one of the 84,000 stupas that was constructed by Emperor
Ashoka – although the actual period in which it was
constructed is not certain yet. The arama that was visited by
Acharya Nagarjuna is believed to have been the residence
of Mahayana Buddhist monks.
BRIEFLY
• Kodavali is in East Godavari

district.
• The nearest railway station is
Ravikampadu (~14 km) and the
nearest airport is Rajahmundry
(~65 km). Kathipudi bus stand is
~9 km away.
• The site, which is maintained
and preserved by the State
Archaeological Department, is open
17.2299° N
82.2753° E every day from 9am-4:30pm.
• Accommodation is available at
Annavaram, ~20 km away.
Restaurants serving Indian cuisine
are available in Kathipudi, ~9 km
away.











nearly five rock-cut caves locally known as Pandavula Guha,






cisterns near it are other defining features. Several relics,





meditating here. Through the years, this significant site









 




 

 























 

) of Nagarjuna, is identified with famous Buddhist
 
 
 
 Hiuen Tsang’s description of the monastery, confirming
– the latter identified with the chain of hills around 
 
 
 
 
 
remains uncorroborated by archaeological finds. 
 
specifically ascribed to the reign of the Satavahanas and it is halls were in five tiers, each with four courts, with temples
 containing gold life-size images of the Buddha of perfect
 
 
 
 placed in a gold reliquary, the latter with a few gold flowers,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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


















significant as Amaravati. So, like Amaravati which evolved



Available evidence points to Nagarjunakonda’s decline BRIEFLY
soon after the fall of the Ikshvakus. The complete absence
of Buddhists sculptures and even elementary Bodhisattvas
• Nagarjunakonda is an island
after 5th century CE is significant and although there
were a few establishments that indicate more than one located in Guntur district near the
period of construction, one superimposed above the other, Nagarjunasagar Dam.
the architectural forms hardly evince any appreciable • The nearest railway station is
evolution. The site never experienced the same glory Macherla (~19 km) while the
again and the Buddhist religious centre again shifted to nearest airport is Vijayawada
Amaravati.
(~197 km).
• The island where the Buddhist site
is located can be reached by boat –
operational at 9:30am, 11:30am
and 1:30pm. The last return trip is
at 4pm. The museum on the island
is open from 9:30am-3:30pm.
• The fee for the boat trip is R100
for adults and R70 for children.
Museum entry fee is R15.
• Photography of excavated works
housed in the archaeological
museum is prohibited.
PAVURALAKONDA
Pavuralakonda, one of the largest Buddhist monastic
complexes in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh, is believed
to have been habited from 3rd century BCE to 2nd century
CE. Situated north of Visakhapatnam, the hilltop site,
160 metres above sea level, offers spectacular views of the
coastline as well as other contemporary Buddhist sites such
as Bavikonda and Thotlakonda.
There are two schools of thought on the origin of the
name Pavuralakonda. Pavuralakonda could refer to hill of
pigeons from the Telugu words pavurala meaning pigeon
and konda meaning hill. It could also have originated from
the abundantly available white stone in the area, locally
referred to as pavaralu.
17.8886° N
83.4372° E
















 


 


 



         
 
 absence of figurative sculpture here, the use of 
 
 
 
 
or pilgrimage site defined 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
halls, five  
 
the more significant and interesting of findings.  
 flight of steps that lead to the main stupa, at the foot of 

















The discovery of a figure of Buddha
in stone, with the graceful flowing robes of


One sculpture depicts a figure of a 













 



 


 







 






hillock that is home to a significant Buddhist site.





formed by a cluster of ten to fifteen villages.















 















are fixed boasts of a stone parasol, a 






brick with a stucco finish and installed on a semi-circular











12 Buddhist images that were unearthed, five were found








reliquaries and gold flowers, are significant.

animal terracotta figures, seals, spools, ear
ornaments, tiles, finials, moulded bricks,






 

 






 


 

 






Lingalakonda. Surrounded by paddy fields, the hills are


establishments that flourished between the 4th and 9th




style tiered rock-cut caves and the Vajrayana-influenced

















crores of phalli. The hilltop is defined by three rock masses







seals, terracotta beads, tablets and figurines.

is the eastern hill of Bojjannakonda. Defined by several

first carved out of rock






The lowest, reached by a flight of irregular steps, is

a magnificent chamber that must have originally been
supported by 16 stone pillars. Boasting of a four-feet-
high stupa, the cave’s entrance has a life-size sculpture
of Buddha, besides one of the lord seated in the usual
contemplative position.
The cave above this consists of two chambers with wall
carvings of large Buddha figures and an image of Buddha
with a cobra hood rising from behind. The third cave is
relatively small with only a two-square-feet inner shrine
while a fourth cave north of the hill is supported by pillars
and has a west-facing image of the Buddha. Several carved
stupas and two small caves with Buddha images, define the
hill’s south side.
On the flat land of the hilltop is a triple cave that
appears to have been the basement of a grand pillared hall,
much like the mandapas of South Indian temples. It is in
halls such as these that the monastic brotherhood would
have congregated for theological discourses or novice-
admission ceremonies. Cells of varying sizes also line the
edge of this brick-laid basement.

















and man seated on a fish.





















17.8261° N
83.4105° E
THOTLAKONDA
Located on a hill 128 metres above sea level near Bheemili
town, Thotlakonda is an idyllic Buddhist monastic site that
is also famed for enchanting views of the Bay of Bengal.
Blessed with salubrious climat-e and panoramic views it
must have been an ideal place for monks to meditate.
The name Thotlakonda is derived from the presence of
several rock-cut cisterns or troughs – totlu in Telugu – that
are hewn into the bedrock of the hillock.
The site was discovered by the Indian Navy during
an aerial survey for setting up a naval base in 1976 and
later excavated by the Department of Archaeology and
Museums between 1988 and 1992, revealing ruins of a well-
established 2000-year-old Theravada or Hinayana Buddhist
monastery.
94















A beautiful complex with magnificent architecture, it 


  
Asian countries. Here, Buddhism was influenced by the


 
 
 
 
  



 
  
 
 
 


 
 


         


























 
  

 
 

 

 
mound in a field adjoining




 affiliation of its sculptural


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 which can be classified
 
 
 
 
 
 
most significant location in 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 significant site of Amaravati
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 caves. A fine carved image

 

CE is a find of considerable

historical significance.




          








district. The site was first












 


        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 terracotta figurines and 
  
















     
           
 
        
  
 
 
 300 BCE to 400 CE.
 

 was first discovered in 1934
dating back to the first
 




















S TAT U E O F
N A G A R J U N A AT
T H E A M A R AVAT I
STUPA SITE
GLOSSARY
Avalokiteswara – One Who Hears the Suffering Cries of the World,
is the bodhisattva of compassion
Ayaka – a small platform extended out from the drum at each of
the gateways of the chaitya or stupa
Bodhisattva – One with the intention to become a Buddha to
liberate all other sentient beings from suffering
Chaitya – a prayer hall or temple containing a stupa
Dharmachakra – a symbolic representation of the dharma, also
known as the Wheel of Dharma
Harmika – the balcony railing of an early Buddhist stupa in India,
which signifies the palace of heaven atop the world mountain
Hinayana – literally “small vehicle”, a coinage for Buddhist
doctrines concerned with the achievement of Nirvana as a
sravakabuddha as opposed to a samyaksambuddha
Mahayana – literally “great vehicle”, a major branch of Buddhism
whose main goal is to achieve buddhahood or samyaksambuddha
Mandala – a spiritual and ritual symbol representing the universe
Nikaya – literally, “volume”, the Buddhist texts in Pali
Pradakshinapatha – refers to the circumambulatory path of sacred
places to imbibe their energy
Sangharama – monastery
Stupa – a dome-shaped building erected as a Buddhist shrine. In
addition to being considered the living presence of the Buddha,
his protective powers, and living energy, they are also a site of
rituals and ceremonies.
• Relic stupa is where the relics or remains of the Buddha, his
disciples, and lay saints are interred.
• Object stupa is where items interred are objects that belonged
to the Buddha or his disciples or important Buddhist
scriptures.
• Commemorative stupa is one built to commemorate events in
the lives of Buddha or his disciples.
• Votive stupa commemorates visits or gain for spiritual benefits,
usually at the site of prominent stupas.
Theravada – literally “words of the elders”, the most popular form
of Buddhism in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka
Triratna – the three jewels or things that Buddhists take refuge
in – the Buddha, his teachings and the community of realised
practitioners
Vedika – a railing enclosing a sacred chaitya, or a spot or object of
veneration
Vihara – a Buddhist temple or monastery
(Source: Wikipedia)

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KOTTURU DHANADIBBALU 62 GOLI, GOPALAPATNAM,

PAVURALAKONDA 70 KORUKONDA/ KAPAVARAM,

RAMATEERTHAM 74 NANDALUR, NANDAYAPALEM,

SALIHUNDAM 78 PEDDA GANJAM, PEDDAMUDIYAM,

SANKARAM 84 RAMPA ERRAMPALEM,

traders and merchants, who

The first cluster of major Buddhist 

Bhattiprolu probably represents the

• Bhattiprolu stupa is in Guntur

• Kodavali is in East Godavari

brick with a stucco finish and installed on a semi-circular

The lowest, reached by a flight of irregular steps, is

A beautiful complex with magnificent architecture, it 

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