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 165

Recent Buddhist and Jaina Discoveries from Deccan
A sculpture of Buddha in Bhumisparsa mudra was recently recovered from the eroded right bank of river Krishna at Vaikunthapuram, a village located 20 kms away from Vijayawada, on the Amaravati road. The left hand of the Buddha is kept in Dhyana mudra, whereas the right hand is in Bhumisparsamudra. The symbol vajra is depicted on the pedestal. The sculpture carved in black basalt stone, on stylistic grounds is datable to the 10th century AD. It is learnt that during the 1974-75 excavation season, fragment of a stone harmika and chatra, rouletted ware, celadon ware, inscribed potsherds, terracotta coin mould datable to the 1st-2nd centuries AD were recovered from the same village, which attests that the village was a Buddhist center during the above period (Plate LXII).
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An image of Buddha in Dhyana mudra was recently discovered from Kollapattu, a hamlet of Damari, a village located on an island of the Pulicat lake in the Sullurpet mandal of Nellore district. In this image there is a halo on the back of the head. The ushnisha on the head is shown like a flame. The image (120 x 60 cms) identified as Amitabha is carved in green granite stone and datable to the 12th century AD. It is now on display at Nellore district Museum (Plate LXIII).
Another idol of Amitabha (1.70 x 0.90 mts) carved out of granite stone is reported from Kunthuru, a hamlet of Koradi in Sullurupet mandal of Nellore district. The presence of brickbats around the find spot suggests the existence of a brick temple in which the Buddha idol must have been housed. Buddha is shown in ardhapadmasana with his hands kept in dhyanamudra. The chivara, which covers the body of the Buddha from right to left, is not shown with foids as in case of early Andhra Buddha images. Prabhāvali, makaras on either side above the shoulder level are shown prominently. The presence of curly hair, a small ushnisha and a flame behind it are noteworthy. The sculpture is datable to the 12th13th centuries AD (Plate LXIV).
Recent excavations conducted on the hilltop at Phanigiri, a village in Tirumalgiri mandal of Nalgonda district revealed the existence of an extensive Buddhist site. The archaeological excavations laid bare a mahastapa (18 mts), a pair of stupa chaityas (Plate LXV) and a good number of monastic cells. Remains of a Silāmaṇḍapa, a limestone railing all-around the site were also noticed. The excavations also yielded a good number of lead and copper coins of the Satavahana, Mahātalvāra and Ikṣṭvāku dynasties. Inscribed sculptural panels of Dampati (Plate LXVI) etc., of the Satavahana and Ikṣṭvāku times, a torso of Buddha image, three Buddha Päda slabs out of which one contains an inscription datable to the 1st century AD were also noticed. Apart from all these, a large number of mutilated sculptures and pots, stucco pieces, terracotta art objects, querns and mullers of the early historic period were unearthed. The interim results of the site offer a date between the 1st century BC and the 3rd century AD.
Near Phanigiri lies another site littered with Buddhist remains called Arvapalli. On the top of the hillock here is noticed a huge brick built stupa with an ayaka platform. There are traces of lime stone pillars, large sized bricks and fragments of pottery belonging to the 1st-3rd centuries AD.
The Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle has conducted explorations and excavations on the hillock at Kapavaram, located on the way from Rajahmundry to Korukonda. Though the site was originally identified during the previous century, for the reasons not known, the site had remained unexcavated. Recent excavations conducted at the site laid bare remains of a group of brick built stūpas, vihāras and potsherds, some of them inscribed. Based on these finds, the site can be assigned a date between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD.