Jinamanjari 1995 09 No 12

Author(s): Jinamanjari
Publisher: Canada Bramhi Jain Society Publication

Page 61

Nandigama
This is a small town located about 30 km away west of Vijayawada and as the crow flies about 15 km away from Vaddamanu. The town was built on the right side of Munneru that joins the river Krishna. It gives access to Godavary region for trade and commercial enterprise across the Decan plateau from the Krishna region through Warangal and Karimnagar.
Examining the outskirts and the town, it was found that its southern fringes leading to the Krishna river contain ancient deposits - polished red ware, black and red, black polished wares almost similar to NBP ware, terracotta and ivory bangle pieces. They displayed a chronological range of the region between 3rd centuary B.C. to 5 centuary A.D.
Phonetically, the name Nandigama may appear as a Hindu name. But its strategic position at the edge of the Krishna basin connecting it to Godavary and its close proximity to ancient Vaddamanu, Vijaavada and Kolanukonda suggest that it could also be a Jain establishment. We have seen earlier that Kolanukonda has a Jain basadi created by the Bhogasangha establishment from Bihar.
In this context, looking back to the days of Mahavira, the Jain literature speaks of a number of places during the twelfth year of his austerities through Pava, Bhogapura, Nandigama, Mendhigama and Kosambi. On the evidence of Jain origins of places on the river Krishna, it may be concluded that the place in question could have been named after Nandiggama in Bihar.
Ambarpeta
This is a moderate contiguous ancient village located about 5 km east towards Vijayawada. Although the place has not yielded any ancient pottery or other material, wide and unusual bricks observed in the foundations of old houses indicate a period going back to Satavahana and Iksvaku periods.
SC