Vijayawada: A 3rd century AD Buddhist relic was found on the right bank of the river Gundlakamma in Prakasam district, said archaeologist and Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA), CEO, E. Sivanagi Reddy on Wednesday.
Dr Reddy credited the find to the information provided by a historian of Prakasam district, Dr Jyothi Chandramouli.
Dr Reddy said that he examined the relic during his visit to Anamanaluru village, Korisepadu mandal, Prakasam district on Wednesday as part of ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’, an awareness campaign launched by CCVA.
The local limestone pillar measuring 1’-3”x0’-9’’x8’.0” and 2’.0” feet below the ground level, is carved with half lotus medallions at the centre and top portions on all the four side in the Amaravati school of Art of the Ikshwaku times datable to the 3rd century A.D.
Dr Reddy enquired the local farmers on its provenance, and ascertained that it was an accidental find encountered while uprooting the eucalyptus trees in the agricultural field and erected it inside the Veerabhadra temple towards the north of the village.
Dr Reddy opined that there might be a Buddhist monastery of which this pillar might be part of a Silamandapa where Buddhist teachers offer regular discourses on the Dhamma of the Buddha.
The antique Buddhist pillar was found to be worn out due to weathering and active agricultural operations. Dr Reddy said that similar pillars carved in the Ikshwaku style are earlier noticed inside the Siva temple at Manikeswaram another village located on the Gundlakamma river bank 3 km away from the present find sport.
He said that he would like to take up a village – wise survey of Buddhist sites and monuments in Prakasam district and publish a book for the benefit of the research scholars.
In view of the archaeological and historical significance of the Buddhist pillar, he made an appeal to the officials of the State Department of Archaeology and Museums, to take necessary action to protect it for posterity or shift to the nearby Museum.
