Lower Kṛṣṇā Valley (2): Bhaṭṭiprolu

[Location: Bhaṭṭiprolu (Lat 1606’N, Long 800 47 E Repalle Taluk, Gunṭur District)]

The stūpa of Bhaṭiprolu [Bhaṭṭiprolu] was one of the magnificent brick structures of early Andhradesa. Once a massive stūpa, probably next to Amarāvatī, it is presently an irregular mass of brickwork with concentric courses of bricks. The mound (locally called Lanja-dibbā) was reported by Boswell (1870)^[1] and then referred by Walter Elliot in a letter printed in Government Proceedings of 7^th June, 1871. A. Rea (1892)^[2] made excavation of the ruined mass and succeeded in tracing the plan of the stūpa. Regarding the plan H. Sarkar opined that the stūpa exhibited a wheel shaped ground plan which probably first began in Bhaṭṭiprolu^[3]. Many important objects were also discovered from the site. Among them mention may be made of three inscribed votive caskets which contain a stone and crystal reliquaries with jewels (PL 5d).

Like Amarāvatī Mahācaitya, the relics of Bhaṭṭiprolu contain Buddha’s bone receptacles (Śariradhātu). The solid dome at Bhaṭṭiprolu measure 132 feet in diameter. The top of the drum measured 148 feet in diameter. Around the base of the dome was a terrace 8 feet wide. The height of the drum was 8 feet. The drum had four projected āyakas with āyaka pillars. Around the base of the drum was a processional path measuring 8 feet 4 inch wide.

From the inscriptions discovered from the site it appears that some individuals and a King Kuberaka made donations to the stūpa. From the inscription it appears that the date of the stūpa is not later than 200 B.C.E^[4].

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid, p 9

[2]:

Sarkar H, 1966, Studies in Early Buddhist Architecture in India, New Delhi, p 84

[3]:

Ramachandran A, Op. cit, p 80

[4]:

Rana Jyoti Rohilla, Op.cit, p 196.