Sannati and Kanaganahalli Buddhist sites
Why in News:
- The ancient Buddhist site on the bank of Bhima river near Kanaganahalli (forming part of Sannati site) in Kalaburagi district, is under renovation
Background
- Sannati and Kanaganahalli are villages on the bank of Bhima river.
- An Ashokan edict was discovered in 1986 at Sannati
- An excavation at Kanaganahalli opened up the Maha Stupa, which was referred to as Adholoka Maha Chaitya (the Great Stupa of the netherworlds) in the inscriptions and , the stone-portrait of Emperor Ashoka seated on his throne, surrounded by his queens and female attendants.
- While the Stupa is believed to be one of the largest of its time, the stone-portrait of Ashoka is considered to be the only surviving image of the Mauryan Emperor which had the inscription ‘Raya Asoko’ written in Prakrit language and Brahmi script.
- The Maha Stupa is believed to have been developed in three constructional phases – Maurya, Early Satavahana and Later Satavahana periods stretching from 3rd Century B.C. to 3rd Century A.D. The Stupa is believed to have been destroyed in an earthquake.
- The recoveries included sculptural rendering of Jataka stories, Portrait of Ashoka, Shatavahana monarchs and certain unique depictions of Buddhist missionaries sent by Ashoka to different parts; 72 drum-slabs decorated with a variety of Dharma-Chakras, Stupas, the first sermon, Bodhi-tree, Naga Muchulinda, Viihara complexes; over 10 inscribed sculptures of the Buddha, over a dozen Buddha-Padas; fragments of Ayaka pillars, umbrella stones and shafts, parts of sculptures of Yakshas and lion and 250 Brahmi inscriptions with varied paleographical features, clay pendants, black polished pottery, Satavahana and pre-Satavahana coins, ornaments made of copper, ivory and iron, a township with paved pathways, houses, limestone flooring, tablets, sculptures, and terracotta items.
References
Subscribe
Login
0 Comments