Book Title: Kevalaodhi Buddhist And Jaina History Of Deccan Vol 2
Author(s): Aloka Parasher Sen, B Subrahmanyam, E Siva Nagi Reddy
Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan
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RECENT BUDDHIST AND JAINA DISCOVERIES FROM DECCAN
B. SUBRAHMANYAM AND E. SIVANAGI REDDY
In course of recent archaeological explorations, a few Buddhist sites and images have been reported from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Andhra Pradesh Buddhist sites belonging to the pre-Christian era have been found located at Erravaram, Amalapuram, Gopalapatnam and Chollangi in East Godavari district, Pellakonda and Regannagudem in Visakhapatnam district, Muppala in Prakasam district and Penumaka in Guntur district. The explorations conducted by the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India on the right and left banks of the river Bhima, in Karnataka resulted in the discovery of an important Buddhist stūpa at Kanaganahalli near Sannati, a well-known Buddhist monastic complex of the Mauryan times. A detailed description of this site has been included in this Volume in Section A of Part II. Stone images of Buddha dating to the period between the 1st century AD and the 14th century AD have also discovered from Nandayapalem, Mukhalingam, Vaikunthapuram, Kollapattu, Kunthuru and Phanigiri in Andhra Pradesh revealing the fact that the Buddhism survived up to medieval period in the Deccan; a phenomena that needs serious attention by scholars in the future. The following are the details of the recent discoveries.
Erravaram is located on the left bank of the river Yeleru, a tributary of the river Godavari in East Godavari district at a distance of 45 Kms from Rajahmundry on the way to Visakhapatnam. At a distance of 1 km towards the east of the village lies a hillock, locally known as Dhanaladibba. On the top of the hillock, remains of a brick vihāra, silamandapa (pillared hall) and votive stūpas were found. In addition to these finds two rock-cut caves and a few rock-cut cisterns were also located. On the southern side of the hillock, was identified a Mahastúpa, where a stone reliquary was recovered from the mound. This reliquary looks like a miniature stūpa and it is now on display at the A. S. P. Government Museum, Kakinada. Based on the cultural material found here, size of the bricks (50 x 24 x 8 cms), and the presence of the rock-cut caves and cisterns, the site can be dated to the period between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD.
The other two discoveries have been made at Pellikonda and Regannagudem. The village Pellikonda is located 5 Kms away from Anandapur, a Mandal headquarters in Visakhapatnam district. While digging the earth on the local hillock for plantation of cashew saplings, a few bricks of special size were discovered. Trial excavations conducted on the hilltop laid bare brick structures of a Buddhist monastery. Traces of two vihāras built in east-west orientation and a stūpa were identified. Based on the early historical materials and the size of the bricks (50 x 25 x 7 cms), it can be considered to date back to the Sātavāhana times.
