Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates 鈥楲ower Krishna Valley (3): Jaggayyapeta鈥� 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鈥檚 life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Lower K峁涐梗峁嚹� Valley (3): Jaggayyape峁璦
[Location: Jaggayyape峁璦 (Lat 16054鈥� N Long 8005鈥橢 Nandigama Taluk, K峁泂h峁嚹� district)]
Jaggayyape峁璦 was an important centre of Buddhism in Andhra. It is situated on the bank of the Paler River, about 5 kms to the north west of 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨. In ancient times it was known as Betavolu[1]. 搁腻箩腻 Vasureddi Venka峁璦dri Nayu岣島, the zaminder of Chintapalli renamed the site Jaggayyape峁璦 after his father鈥檚 name Jaggayya. It is usually datable to 2nd century B.C.E. The Buddhist site is located on a hillock called Dhanabodhu (hill of wealth) or Velagiri. According to some the name Jaggayyape峁璦 is derived from the hill Velagiri[2].
It is also considered as one of the ancient 蝉迟奴辫补 of Andhradesa. The site was explored by J. Burgess (1882). It appeared that the great 蝉迟奴辫补 (惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补) of Jaggayyape峁璦 (PL 6a) was surrounded by 腻测补办补 pillars at four cardinal points like that of N膩g膩rjunako峁囜笉a. The 蝉迟奴辫补 had an outer brick casing with an inferior packing formed of layers of earth two feet thick. The 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补 was about 31.5 feet in diameter, processional path of 10.5 feet wide and 3鈥�9鈥� above the floor[3]. Apart from the 惭补丑腻肠补颈迟测补, many other small 蝉迟奴辫补s were also found at Jaggayyape峁璦.
Like 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 free standing colums round the stupa were also found during the excavation. From the remains of Jaggayyape峁璦 it appears that the circumambulatory path on the top of the 尘别诲丑墨 had a parapet or balustrade.
Some carved marble slabs and pilasters are discovered from the site. Some pilasters depict figures standing on mythical animals (PL 6b). The sculptures are characterized by extremely low and flat reliefs and elongated treatment of the limbs. One of the significant reliefs is that of Cakravartin (Universal Monarch).
Footnotes and references:
[2]: