Nagarjunakonda
Nagarjuna Konda | |
---|---|
Location | Macherla mandal, Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Coordinates | 16°31′18.82″N 79°14′34.26″E / 16.5218944°N 79.2428500°E |
Governing body | Archaeological Survey of India |
Nagarjunakonda: Nāgārjunikoṇḍa, meaning Nagarjuna Hill) is a historical town, now an island located near
The site was once the location of a large Buddhist monastic university complex, attracting students from as far as
The modern name is after
This Nāgārjunakoṇḍa (sometimes Nāgārjunikoṇḍa) site in Andhra Pradesh is not to be confused with the Nāgārjuna (or Nāgārjuni) caves near the Barabar Caves in Bihar.
History
Coins issued by the later
The site rose to prominence after the decline of the Satavahanas, in the first quarter of the 3rd century, when the Ikshvaku king Vashishthiputra Chamamula established his capital Vijayapuri here. The coins and inscriptions discovered at Nagarjunakonda name four kings of the Ikshavaku dynasty: Vashishthi-putra Chamtamula, Mathari-putra Vira-purusha-datta, Vashishthi-putra Ehuvala Chamtamula, and Vashishthi-putra Rudra-purusha-datta. An inscription dated to the 30th regnal year of the Abhira king Vashishthi-putra Vasusena has also been discovered at the ruined Ashtab-huja-svamin temple.[8] This has led to speculation that the Abhiras, who ruled the region around Nashik, invaded and occupied the Ikshavaku kingdom. However, this cannot be said with certainty.[9]
The Ikshavaku kings constructed several temples dedicated to the deities such as Sarva-deva, Pushpabhadra,
The last extant Ikshavaku inscription is dated to the 11th year (c. 309 CE) of Rudra-purusha: the subsequent fate of the dynasty is not known, but it is possible that the
The region was later ruled by the
Archaeological research
In 1926, a local schoolteacher, Suraparaju Venkataramaih, saw an ancient pillar at the site, and reported his discovery to the Madras Presidency government. Subsequently, Shri Sarasvati, the Telugu language Assistant to the Archaeological Superintendent for Epigraphy of Madras, visited the site, and it was recognized as a potential archaeological site.[14]
The first discoveries were made in 1926 by French archaeologist
In 1938, T N Ramachandran led another excavation at the site, resulting in the discovery of some more monuments. In 1954, when the construction of the proposed
An archaeological catastrophe struck in 1960, when an irrigation dam was constructed across the nearby Krishna River, submerging the original site under the waters of a reservoir. In advance of the flooding, several monuments were dug up and relocated to the top of Nagarjuna's Hill, where a museum was built in 1966 Other monuments were relocated to the mainland, east of the flooded area. Dedicated archaeologists managed to recover almost all of the relics.
Excavated ruins
Buddhist ruins
Archaeological inscriptions at the site show that the
This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2023) ) |
The great stupa at Nagarjunakonda belongs to the class of uncased stupas, its brickwork being plastered over and the stupa decorated by a large garland-ornament.[2] The original stupa was renovated by the Ikshvaku princess Chamtisiri in the 3rd century, when ayaka-pillars of stone were erected. The outer railing, if any, was of wood, its uprights erected over a brick plinth. The stupa, 32.3 m in diameter, rose to a height of 18 m with a 4 m wide circumambulatory. The medhi stood 1.5 m and the ayaka-platforms were rectangular offsets measuring 6.7 by 1.5 m.[18]
The style of the reliefs recovered is "all but indistinguishable" from those of the final phase of the Amaravati Stupa not very far away, from the second quarter of the third century, slightly earlier than Nagarjunakonda. Though "lively and interesting", they show "a great decline since the mature phase at Amaravarti", with less complex groupings, various mannerisms in the figures, and a flatness to the surfaces.[19]
Hindu ruins
Most of the Hindu ruins at Nagarjunakonda can be identified as Shaivite, wherever an identification is possible. One of the temples has an inscription naming the god as "Mahadeva Pushpabhadraswami" (Shiva). Stone images of Kartikeya (Murugan) were found at two other shrines. An inscription found at another excavated shrine refers to yet another Shiva shrine. At least one temple, attested by a 278 CE inscription, can be identified as Vaishnavite, based on the image of an eight-armed god. A large sculpture of Devi has also been discovered at the site.[4]
Greco-Roman artifacts
Various remains suggesting Greco-Roman influence can be found at Nagajurnakonda.
- Scythian influence
Inscriptions
The Nagarjunakonda inscriptions are a series of epigraphical inscriptions found in the area of Nagarjunakonda. The inscriptions are associated with the blossoming of Buddhist structures and the rule of the Ikshvaku, in the period covering approximately 210-325 CE.[26]
The Nagarjunakonda inscriptions tends to stress the cosmopolitan nature of Buddhist activities there, explained that a variety of Buddhist monks came from various lands.
The inscriptions are either in Prakrit, in Sanskrit, or a mix of both, and are all in the Brahmi script.[26] The Nagarjunakonda inscriptions are the earliest substantial South Indian Sanskrit inscriptions, probably from the late 3rd-century to early 4th-century CE. These inscriptions are related to Buddhism and to the Shaivism tradition of Hinduism, and parts of them reflect both standard Sanskrit and hybridized Sanskrit.[29]
The spread of the usage of Sanskrit inscriptions to the south can probably be attributed to the influence of the
Etymology
The modern name of the site originates from its presumptive association with the Buddhist scholar
Fa-Hien, in his travelogue A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms, mentions a five storey monastery on top of the hill, dedicated to Kassapa Buddha. He describes each storey as being in the shape of a different animal, with the uppermost being in the shape of a pigeon.[37] Fa-Hien refers to the monastery as Po-lo-yue; which has been interpreted to mean Pārāvata, meaning "pigeon" (hence the name "Pigeon Monastery"), or Parvata, meaning "hill" in Sanskrit (although the latter is considered to be the correct name).[38]
When
Nagarjunasagar Dam
The Nagarjunasagar Dam is the tallest masonry dam in the world, constructed between 1955 and 1967. The excavated remains of the Buddhist civilisation were reconstructed and preserved at a museum on the island situated in the midst of the man-made Nagarjunasagar Lake The site has a 14th-century fort, medieval temples and a museum constructed like a Buddhist
Tourism
Located in the Guntur district, Nagarjunakonda Island is not directly accessible on the State Highway. The nearest train station is at Macherla, 29 km away. The island is mainly connected by a ferry to the mainland. The area is also known for panoramic views of the valley from a viewing area near the dam, and is also the site of the Ethipothala Falls, a natural waterfall that cascades down 22 m into a blue lagoon that is also a breeding centre for crocodiles. The nearby Srisailam wildlife sanctuary and the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve are refuge for diverse reptiles, birds and animals. Srisailam, which sits on the shore of Krishna in the Nallamala Hills is a site of immense historical and religious significance, including a Shiva temple that is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas.
References
- ^ [https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/38238 MET museum page
- ^ a b Longhurst, A. H. (October 1932). "The Great Stupa at Nagarjunakonda in Southern India". The Indian Antiquary. ntu.edu.tw. pp. 186–192. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Syamsundar, V. L. (13 February 2017). "Palnadu aspires for separate district status". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-674-39189-5.
- ^ Rowland, pp. 209-214
- ^ Rowland, 212
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, pp. 2–3.
- ^ a b c K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 3.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 4.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 10.
- ^ "Ancient India". www.art-and-archaeology.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, pp. 8–9.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 9.
- ^ a b c K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 2.
- ^ a b The Buddhist Antiquities of Nagarjunakonda, Madras Presidency by A. H. Longhurst. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Volume 72, Issue 2–3 June 1940 , pp. 226–227 [1]
- ^ ISBN 9788170171478.
- JSTOR 4629244.
- ^ Visit Lord Budha – Nagarjunakonda Archived 4 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Harle, 38
- ISBN 9781315420684.
- ISBN 9788120804982.
- ^ a b "In Nagarjunakonda Scythian influence is noticed and the cap and coat of a soldier on a pillar may be cited as an example.", in Sivaramamurti, C. (1961). Indian Sculpture. Allied Publishers. p. 51.
- ^ a b "A Scythian dvarapala standing wearing his typical draperies, boots and head dress. Distinct ethnic and sartorial characteristics are noteworthy.", in Ray, Amita (1982). Life and Art of Early Andhradesa. Agam. p. 249.
- ^ "National Portal and Digital Repository: Record Details". museumsofindia.gov.in.
- ^ "The Iksvakus Kings employed Scythian soldiers as their palace guards, and also an inscription hints that a colony of Scythians existed at Nagarjunakonda.", in The Journal of the Institution of Surveyors (India). Institution of Surveyors. 1967. p. 374.
- ^ ISBN 9789351506478.
- ^ Longhurst, A. H. (1932). The Great Stupa at Nagarjunakonda in Southern India. The Indian Antiquary. p. 186.
- ISBN 9788176252997.
- ^ Salomon 1998, pp. 90–91.
- ^ Salomon 1998, pp. 93–94.
- ISBN 9788120800267.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 5.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 6.
- ISBN 9788120714953.
- ^ (India), Madhya Pradesh (1982). Madhya Pradesh District Gazetteers: Ujjain. Government Central Press. p. 26.
- ^ K. Krishna Murthy 1977, p. 1.
- ^ Legge, James (1971). Travels of Fa-Hien.
- ^ Barua, Dipak Kumar (1969). Viharas In Ancient India.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ^ Subrahmaniam, K.R. (1937). Journal Of The Andhra Historical Research Society,vol.10,pt.1 To 4. pp. 100–101.
- ^ Samuel Beal (1911). Life Of Hiuen Tsiang By The Shaman Hwui Li.
- S2CID 162362496.
- ISBN 978-81-7017-406-6.
- ^ "city information of hyderabad, nagarjunasagar, nagarjunakonda, warangal, medak". 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
- ^ "Tourism of India - Buddha - Excursion". 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
Bibliography
- Harle, J.C., The Art and Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, 2nd edn. 1994, Yale University Press Pelican History of Art, ISBN 0300062176
- K. Krishna Murthy (1977). Nāgārjunakoṇḍā: A Cultural Study. Concept Publishing Company. OCLC 4541213.
- Archaeological Survey of India (1987). Nagarjunakonda.
- Rowland, Benjamin, The Art and Architecture of India: Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, pp. 209-214, 1967 (3rd edn.), Pelican History of Art, Penguin, ISBN 0140561021
- Salomon, Richard (1998). Indian Epigraphy: A Guide to the Study of Inscriptions in Sanskrit, Prakrit, and the Other Indo-Aryan Languages. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509984-2.