- A Buddhist Stupa site was discovered in Munjuluru Village, Bantumilli Manda, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh by the State Department of Archaeology, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh in 2010 consisting of a hemispherical mound about 10 meters height with rectangular projections at the base on four cordinal directions found in the Village Munjuluru in an extent of 43 cms.
- The brick size measures 27x23x7 cms. in the surrounding areas of the mound noticed black and red ware, buff along with conch shells.
- Broken Ayaka Pillar of lime stone and pitha datable to 5th – 6th century A.D. were also noticed.
The Government had sanctioned Rs. 10 crore for establishing a Pali research and study centre at Gulbarga University.
Feb 2012:
A Buddhist site,containing four stupa mounds were found in the middle of the hill ranges, possibly belonging to the Satavahana period, has been discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India at Kummarilova, 5 km from Tuni, the mandal headquarters in East Godavari district.
A Buddhist site,containing four stupa mounds were found in the middle of the hill ranges, possibly belonging to the Satavahana period, has been discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India at Kummarilova, 5 km from Tuni, the mandal headquarters in East Godavari district.
ASI officials found four disturbed Buddhist stupa mounds and veneered stupa stones other evidence that proved that Buddhists had lived in the village lying close to the foothills.
The explorations revealed that Buddhist monks lived in Kummarilova for some years and had business transactions with Burma, Indonesia, Bhutan, Tibet, China and Thailand. Officials found glass coins and Roman gold coins that were seized near Gopalapatnam village, and utensils.
The smaller stupa on the North East direction was of approximately 22 feet in radius and the third one on South East direction measured 25 feet in radius. Veneered stupa stones, bricks, which were used as foundations and for decoration of stupas were found on the mounds.
The brick foundations of small rooms were about 80 m long. They might be associated with Bikshu Viharas.
It is believed that the Buddhist structures were constructed with two types of bricks mixed with clay and covered with lime. It is believed the Buddhist site belonged to the Theravada sect and established during the Satavahana period (1 B.C. to 3rd A.D.). The stupa and the vihara structure found on the middle of the hills and foothills were built systematically.
Another similar news:
The Archaeological Survey of India has discovered another Buddhist site on the hillocks of Ayyapparaju Kothapalli village in Tondangi Mandal in East Godavari district.
A Buddhist Maha Stupa and other votive stupa foundations, a number of Vihara cells, Brahmi inscription with 11 letters and an important relic receptacle were found on the hillock.
Satavahana period
The site – Pedda dibba – is four km away from Annavaram Mahastupa and 8 km from the Bay of Bengal. The 100-acre Buddhist complex belongs to the early Satavahana period.
Disturbed
The Buddhist stupa complex was badly disturbed as villagers raised cashew and mango trees on it. Also, villagers removed stupa bricks for construction of houses. According to local farmers, when they removed the stone receptacle, they found that a capstone was fixed on it. When the capstone was broken three crystal relic caskets were found.
They contain a small flower, a small human bone relic, beads and precious and semi-precious stones. But, at present only the base of the stone receptacle is seen near the Maha Stupa.
There is strong evidence that the stupa is provided with stone railing around it like the one at Amaravati and Bhattiprolu in the State.
There are evidences that some viharas and congregation halls were constructed on this site. Roof tile pieces, called Satavahana tiles, found on the south-eastern side and on the western side of the hill slopes and on the top of the hill add strength to this argument.
Water tank
A number of pottery pieces of conical bowls, black and red polished wares, black polished ware and red slippery wares are found mixed with white clay. Half moon stones are also found on the site. A small water tank covering an area of 0.75 cents was found on the eastern side of the hillock.
Recent excavations reveal that this Buddhist site belongs to 2 and 1 B.C. - 1 A.D. The Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana sects flourished on this site.
A Maha Stupa and a number of Vihara cells, Brahmi inscription with 11 letters and an important relic receptacle discovered
Reference:
1. Government of India Press Release
2. ASI
3. thehindu.com