Buddhist Relic Unearthed in Andhra Pradesh

• 27 Jun 2019

A Buddhist relic has been unearthed in Andhra Pradesh. It is a limestone pillar, which is carved with half lotus medallions at the centre and top portions on all four sides.

• It belongs to the Amaravati school of Art of the Ikshvaku times.
• Buddhist monastery of which this pillar might be part of a Shilamandapa where Buddhist teachers offer regular discourses on the Dhamma of the Buddha.
• The exploration was undertaken under ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’, an awareness campaign launched by the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA), to bring to limelight artefact which remained in neglect in different parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Amaravati School of Art

• Amaravati school of art evolved and flourished for nearly six centuries commencing from 200-100 BC in India itself, i.e. it has no outside influence.
• It was patronized first by the Satavahanas and later by the Ikshvakus.
• The material used is a distinctive white marble and Amaravati sculptures have a sense of movement and energy with profound and quiet naturalism in human, animal and floral forms.
• Both religious (mainly Buddhist) and secular images were present in this style.