Another Buddhist site found - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

Another Buddhist site found - ANDHRA PRADESH - The Hindu

The Archaeological Survey of India has discovered another Buddhist site on the hillocks of Ayyapparaju Kothapalli village in Tondangi Mandal in East Godavari district. Only last week a similar site was discovered near Kummarilova in neighbouring Tuni mandal.

A Buddhist Maha Stupa and other votive stupa foundations, a number of Vihara cells, Brahmi inscription with 11 letters and an important relic receptacle were found on the hillock.

Satavahana period

The site – Pedda dibba – is four km away from Annavaram Mahastupa and 8 km from the Bay of Bengal. The 100-acre Buddhist complex belongs to the early Satavahana period.

Disturbed

The Buddhist stupa complex was badly disturbed as villagers raised cashew and mango trees on it. Also, villagers removed stupa bricks for construction of houses. According to local farmers, when they removed the stone receptacle, they found that a capstone was fixed on it. When the capstone was broken three crystal relic caskets were found.

They contain a small flower, a small human bone relic, beads and precious and semi-precious stones. But, at present only the base of the stone receptacle is seen near the Maha Stupa.

S. Bangaraiah, Assistant Director, ASI, and Kadiyala Venkateswara Rao, freelance archaeologist of Tenali who spent four to five days in the village, said the Kummarilova site and A. Kothapalli are completely different and the excavations have revealed interesting things. There is strong evidence

that the stupa is provided with stone railing around it like the one at Amaravati and Bhattiprolu in the State.

There are evidences that some viharas and congregation halls were constructed on this site. Roof tile pieces, called Satavahana tiles, found on the south-eastern side and on the western side of the hill slopes and on the top of the hill add strength to this argument.

Water tank

A number of pottery pieces of conical bowls, black and red polished wares, black polished ware and red slippery wares are found mixed with white clay. Half moon stones are also found on the site. A small water tank covering an area of 0.75 cents was found on the eastern side of the hillock.

Recent excavations reveal that this Buddhist site belongs to 2 and 1 B.C. - 1 A.D. The Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana sects flourished on this site.