Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates ‘Vishnukundin dynasty’ 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.
The Viṣṇukuṇḍin dynasty
The Viṣṇukuṇḍin dynasty extended their sway over Kṛṣṇā and Guṇṭur district and issued coins (Pl 32a) from Amarāvatī[1]. The Viṣṇukuṇḍin inscription speaks of Amrapura from 6th Century CE. This Amarapura in all probability can be identified with Amarāvatī. It is believed that the Viṣṇukuṇḍins had Amrapura as their second capital and Vengi was the first. The name Amrapura probably became renowned when the Viṣṇukuṇḍin had their sway in the Kṛṣṇā valley[2]. However, another Viṣṇukuṇḍin epigraph says that indrapālanagara was the capital of the dynasty. Amarāvatī was considered to be the city of Indra, hence the name Indrapalanagara is also considered to be the toponym of Amarāvatī. The Viṣṇukuṇḍin ruler Govindavarman constructed a vihāra at Indrapura[3], the region same as that of Amarāvatī. The Viṣṇukuṇḍin record also signals Buddhist predominance in the Amarāvatī region. Amarāvatī also retained its position as a megacity. Dhānyakaṭaka also figure in an inscription of the Ānanda dynasty.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ramachandran A, Op.cit, p 133
[2]:
Ibid, p 42.