Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Lower Krishna Valley (12): Ramatirtham’ of the study on Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology, including museum exhibitions of the major archeological antiquities. These pages show how the Buddhist establishment of Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) survived from 4th century BCE to 14th century CE. It includes references and translations of episodes of Buddha’s life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.
Lower Kṛṣṇā Valley (12): Rāmatīrtham
[Location: Rāmatīrtham (Lat 18010’N Long 830 30’E, Viśākhāpatnam District)]
The site [Rāmatīrtham/Rāmatīrtha] is located about 13 km to the north-west of Vizianagram in the Viśākhāpaṭnam district. To the north of the Rāmatīrtham village is a chain of hills of which Gurubhaktakoṇḍa contains the ruins of a number of Buddhist structures on its top (PL 9c)[1].
This site was first noted by R. Sewell and in 1910 several Buddhist edifices were discovered. These remains established the religious importance of the place[2].
Among several Buddhist antiquities discovered from the site the Mahāstūpa was the most notable establishment. It is 65 feet in diameter. However, only the base of the stūpa has survived. To the east of the main stūpa is a higher terrace with rows of brick monastic cell. To the east of the staircase leading to the lower terrace is a damaged hall with monolithic pillars. Beyond this maṇḍapa lies four caityagṛhas. The votive stūpa inside two of them has survived[3].
Among other findings mention may be made of a lead coin and six clay seals. One of the seal bears an inscription with the legend ‘Siri S [i] vama [Ka?]-Vijayaraja-selasaghasa’ bearing characters of 2nd century C.E. In this inscription Sivamaka Vijayarāja is generally identified with Sivamaka Sada of the Amarāvatī record. Thus it can be postulated that the establishment was probably patronized by Sivamaka Sada[4] and the Buddhist sect of the Śailas. Very close to the structure is a tank which possibly was constructed for the collection of rain water.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid, p 220.
[2]:
Das D. Jithendra, Op. cit, p 49