Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Lower Krishna Valley (24): Thotlakonda’ 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 (24): Thoṭlakoṇḍa
B.R Subrahmanyam conducted excavation in 1987-88 in the coastal district of Andhra Pradesh and exposed the antiquites of Thoṭlakoṇḍa in the Viśākhāpatnam district. It is an ancient Buddhist centre and the habitation site revealed the existence of a stūpa, votive stūpas, (PL 11b) vihāras, chaityagṛhas and pillared maṇḍapa. In addition to it stucco pieces with floral designs, lead coins of Sātavāhanas and Ikṣvākus, broken Red Ware finials, bowls and broken iron nails were found[1].
A mound elevated than the other mound is considered to be the Mahāstūpa. It is placed on a platform with a diameter of about 8.70 meter with a circumambulatory path laid in brick. The drum of the stūpa is raised to a height of 85 cms with about 11 courses of bricks[2]. On the eastern side of the Mahāstūpa and near to the circular chaitya are the remains of a stone votive stūpa and fragments of chhatra with inscription having Brāhmī character.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid, p 25
[2]:
Ibid, p 26