Ancient Stupa Discovery in Nirmal's Bavapur Kurru Could Be Telangana's Earliest Buddhist Site

Hyderabad:A stupa-like structure and brick remains discovered on Bavapur Kurru, an island in the Godavari river near Badankurthi in Nirmal district, could turn out to be the earliest Buddhist site in Telangana, and possibly South India, according to historians.

Historians said the name Bavapur could be correlated with Sage Bavari, while Kurru in Telugu means island. The site's association with Bavari, who is mentioned in the Sutta Nipata Buddhist scripture as sending 16 disciples to meet Gautama Buddha, strengthened the belief that Buddhism reached Telangana during the Buddha's lifetime.

The site lies on the amidst Godavari which can be identified similar description made in the Sutta nipata.

History researchers first identified the remains in 2018 during an exploration led by local history lecturer D. Santosh. Subsequent surveys by historians, Buddhavanam Project and the heritage department, uncovered a large mound with a stupa-like structure, smaller circular brick formations, which are believed to be votive stupas, brick alignments and structures resembling vihara (monastic) cells.

About 70 metres on the eastern side from the main stupa some brick structures were exposed in square shaped pits, which can be presumed as vihara cells. The stupas and bricks appear to be of experimenting stage, this site can be an early Buddhist site.

Historians said as the nature of the site and historicity connected with Bavari’s name led to the idea that this was an early Hinayana site. Excavations here may bring the earliest stupa of Telangana or may be entire deccan and South India as the story of Bavari says so, as per researchers.

Apart from the early historic evidence, many prehistoric stone tools, mainly Neolithic tools, are lying at the site displaying the continuity of the site from the Neolithic period.

M.A. Srinivasan, assistant professor at Suravaram Pratap Reddy Telugu University, who took part in the exploration, said the stupa-like structure and brick alignments indicate that Bavapur Kurru is the centre of early Buddhism.

Srinivasan said in 2018 through the clearance of vegetation only material evidences were found, if we can do proper excavations it can be proved with evidences as the early Buddhist site and enriches the understanding of the Telangana early history.

Experts recommend developing the site and integrating it in Buddhist heritage circuit by improving road connectivity, establishing a site museum, installing informative signage, creating boat access to the island monastery, and organising annual Buddhist cultural festivals.