Kevalaodhi Buddhist And Jaina History Of Deccan Vol 2

Author(s): Aloka Parasher Sen, B Subrahmanyam, E Siva Nagi Reddy
Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan

Page 164

366
Kevala-Bodhi-Buddhist and Jaina History of the Deccan
The survey in and around Pellikonda brought to light a mound near Regannagudem littered with brickbats. Trial digs here exposed the drum portion of a stūpa. Bricks of size 50 x 25 x 7 cms were used for the drum. Based on the size of the bricks and also the other cultural material recovered from the site, it can be dated back to the 1st century BC.
Another Buddhist monastery was discovered on the hilltop of the Penumaka, a village located 10 kms away from Vijayawada on the Vijayawada-Amaravati road in Guntur district. Surface explorations conducted here resulted in the discovery of a stūpa and other remains of a stone stúpa and vihāra. It was found that a dry stone masonry wall enclosed the entire monastic complex. There were more than 20 rock-cut cisterns located outside the enclosure wall at various places on the western side of the hillock, which might have served the purpose of storing drinking water during the rainy season. The brick stupa located on the northern side was found intact. Since there were no traces of sculptural panels, the monastic complex can be said to have belonged to Theravāda phase of Buddhism. The discovery of brickbats, wedge shaped dressed stones, early historic cultural material, indicate that it belongs to the Sātavāhana times (i.e. 1st century BC-1st century AD).
Muppala, is a village in Prakasam district where an early historic Buddhist site has been recently identified. Brick built vihäras, a chaitya and a broken image of Buddha was unearthed. Based on the size of the bricks, pottery and iconographical details of the image, the site can be dated to the 2nd century AD.
During the course of explorations conducted by the authors at Mukhalingam, Vaikunthapuram, Kollapattu and Kunthur, a few Buddhist images were brought to light. At Mukhalingam, three idols, namely, Buddha as Akshobhya, Amitabha and a female figure of Usnishavijaya datable to the 8th 9th centuries AD were noticed from the precincts of Bhīmēsvara Temple at Mukhalingam, a Saivite Kshetra in Srikakulam district. Located on the left bank of the river Vamsadhara, Mukhalingam was known for Buddhist remains such as brick structures, early historic pottery and a Sātavāhana coin. The discovery of the Vajrayāna sculptures suggests that Mukhalingam continued to be a center of Buddhism right from the early historic times to the early medieval period. The following is the description of the Buddhist sculptures:
Buddha in Dhyāna Mudra: The figure of Buddha carved in red sandstone, is in dhyana mudra seated on a lotus pedestal. A pair of makaras on either side at the shoulder level, flying gandharvas holding flywhisks and a prabhā mandala are found depicted on the sculpture (Plate LIX).
Usnishavijaya : The image of Ushnishavijaya carved in red sandstone is shown seated in Vajraparyankásana on a lotus pedestal. There are attendants on either side with folded hands. In the right side hands she holds a double thunderbolt, arrow and the third hand is in varada mudra whereas the fourth attribute is not clear. She wears a headgear and ornaments on the body. Traces of five Dhyani Buddhas depicted on the prabhāvali are seen. Only the figure of Dhyāni Buddha Ratnasambhava is clearly visible (Plate LX).
Buddha in Bhūmisparsa Mudra : The figure of Buddha is shown seated on Vajraparyankāsana in Bhūmisparsa mudra. Two figures of gandharvas holding flywhisks are shown on either side of the oval shaped prabhamandala. Based on the stylistic grounds, this red sand stone image is datable to the 8th-9th centuries AD (Plate LXI).