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8/12/2019 Longhurst the Great Stupa at Nagarjunakonda in Southern India.

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NAGARJ UNAKONDA, or Nagar j una' s hi l l , i s t he name of a bi g r ocky hat - t opped hi l l on t he r i ght bank of t he Kr i shna r i ver i n t he Pal nad t al uk of t he Gunt ur di st r i ct of t he Madr as Presi dency, and 15 mi l es west by nor t h of Macher l a r ai l way st at i on, t he t er mi nus of t he new l i ne f r om Gunt ur opened i n 1931. The hi l l

st ands i n a val l ey compl et el y shut i n by at r i ng of hi l l s, an of f shoot of t he Nal l amal ai s ( Bl ack Hi l l s) of t he adj oi ni ng Kur nool di st r i ct, on t hr ee si des, wi t h t he Kr i shna, r i ver on t he f our t h or nor t h- west er n si de, where i t f or ms t he boundary bet ween t hi s part of t he Madr as Presi dency and t he Ni zam' s Domi ni ons. The annexed si t e pl an ( Pl at e I ) shows t he geographi cal f eat ures of t he area and t he posi t i ons of t he monument s di scover ed.

Nagar j unakonda i s about 60 mi l es di st ant f r om Amar avat i as t he cr ow f l i es, but consi der abl y f ur t her by r i ver . I t i s a wi l d and desol at e spot , and bei ng

shut i n by t he sur r oundi ng r ocky hi l l s i s usual l y ver y hot dur i ng most mont hs of t he year . There i s a r ough car t t r ack f r om Macher l a t o Nagul avaram, a di st ance of 10 mi l es, but t he r emai ni ng 5 mi l es over t he hi l l s and t hr ough t he val l ey t o Nagarj unakonda has t o be per f or med on f oot , as no car t t r af f i c i s

E GREAT STUPA AT NAGARJUNAKONDA IN SOUTHERN INDIA. http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-ENG/long.ht

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t he l ady i n quest i on i n t he si xth year of t he r ei gn of ki ng Si r i - Vi r t apur i sadat a bet ween t he second and t hi r d cent ur i es A. D. The same r oyal l ady bui l t a monast ery and an apsi dal t empl e cl ose t o t he east ern gat e of t he Gr eat St upa, t he r ui ns of whi ch r emai n. Another i mport ant i nscr i pt i on was f ound engraved on t he st one f l oor of an apsi dal t empl e si t uat ed on a r ocky hi l l about t wo f ur l ongs t o t he east of t he Gr eat St upa, and known l ocal l y as Naharal l abodu. Thi s t empl e and a monast ery st andi ng al ongsi de of i f were

bui l t by a l ady named Bodhi si r i and dedi cat ed t o t he f r at er ni t i es of Ceyl onese monks set t l ed at Nagar j unakonda. The i nscr i pt i on r el at es t hat t hese Ceyl onese Buddhi st s had convert ed t he peopl e of Kashmi r , Gandhar a, Chi na, Ceyl on, Bengal , Kanara, and ot her pl aces i n I ndi a. The l at t er par t of t he i nscr i pt i on ment i ons ot her pi ous wor ks by Bodhi si r i , i ncl udi ng a pi l l ar ed hal l or mandapa at Kant akasel a, whi ch, as Dr . Vogel poi nt s out i n hi s account of t hese i nscr i pt i ons, must be i dent i cal wi t h "t he empor i umKant i kossul a, " ment i oned by Ptol emy as bei ng si t uat ed "af t er t he mout hs of t he Mai sol os ( Kr i shna) . " The Per i pl us speaks of "t he r egi on of

Masal i a, " st r et chi ng a l ong way al ong t he coast , " and adds, "a gr eat quant i t y of musl i ns i s made here. " The anci ent name by whi ch t he Kr i shna del t a was known t o t he Gr eeks i s pr eser ved i n t hat of t he seaport of Masul i pat am.

I n t he same i nscr i pt i on ( F of Dr . Vogel ' s l i st ) , t he name of t he anci ent ci t y t hat once exi st ed i n t he Nagar j unakonda val l ey i s gi ven as Vi j ayapur i , and t he hi l l now known as Naharal l abodu, on whi ch Bodhi si r i erect ed t he t empl e and monast ery f or t he Ceyl onese monks, i s cal l ed t he Lesser Dhammagi r i si t uat ed on Sr i par vat a. The hi l l i n quest i on i s an of f shoot of t he surr oundi ng Nal l amal ai s of t he adj oi ni ng Kur nool

di st r i ct. These hi l l s ext end i n a sout h- west er l y di r ecti on al l al ong t he r i ver i nt o t he Kur nool di st r i ct , wher e, on t he t op of a wooded hi l l some 50 mi l es sout h- west of Nagar j unakonda and f aci ng t he r i ver , st ands t he f amous Sr i sai l am t empl e sacred t o Si va and a gr eat pl ace of pi l gr i mage i n t he spr i ng, when a bi g annual f est i val i s hel d t her e. I t t hus seems f r om t hi s i nscr i pt i on t hat i n ear l y t i mes t he Nal l amal ai s wer e known as Sr i parvata. Thi s i s an i nt er est i ng poi nt , because t her e i s an anci ent t r adi t i on pr eser ved i n Ti bet t hat t he f amous Buddhi st di vi ne Nagar j una ended hi s days i n a monast ery on Sr i par vat a i n Sout her n I ndi a. I f t hi s monast er y i s

t he same as t he r ui ned one on t he Lesser Dhammagi r i , i f woul d f ol l ow t hat t he associ at i on of Nagar j una wi t h t hi s l ocal i t y has been pr eser ved up t o t he present day i n t he name Nagar j unakonda ( Nagar j una' s Hi l l ) .

The f act t hat a monast ery and a t empl e were bui l t speci al l y f or t he benef i t of Ceyl onese, monks shows t hat ver y cor di al r el at i ons must have exi st ed bet ween t he Andhr a, Buddhi st s and t hei r co- r el i gi oni st s i n Ceyl on at t hat per i od. The exi st ence of such r el at i ons can be r eadi l y account ed f or by t he sea- bor ne t r ade whi ch was car r i ed on bet ween t he por t s of Ceyl on and t he great empor i um Kant akasel a of

t he Kr i shna del t a. I t was no doubt t hi s t r ade whi ch was mai nl y r esponsi bl e f or t he f l our i shi ng st at e of Buddhi sm i n t hi s par t of Sout her n I ndi a, whi ch enabl ed t he Buddhi st merchant s and t hei r r oyal mast ers t o r ai se monument s of such magni f i cence as


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t hose at Nagar j unakonda and Amaravat i . As Dr . Vogel ment i ons, t he decl i ne of Buddhi sm i n t he l ower Kr i shna val l ey may have had other causes besi des t he gener al wane of t hat r el i gi on al l over I ndi a, t her e may have been economi c f act or s at work, such as t he decl i ne of t he sea- bor ne t r ade wi t h t he West , whi ch had caused vast quant i t i es of Roman gol d t o pour i nto Sout her n I ndi a. There was al so t he conquest of t he sout h by t he Gupt a Emper or Samudr a Gupt a and t he r i se of powerf ul dynast i es devot ed t o Br ahmani sm, l i ke t he

Pal l ava dynasty i n t he Sout h and t he Chal ukya i n t he West .

The r ui ned bui l di ngs di scover ed, r epr esent t he r emai ns of st upas, monaster i es, apsi dal t empl es and a pal ace. They wer e al l bui l t of l ar ge br i cks measur i ng 20' x 10' x 3" , t he same di mensi ons as t he br i cks r ecent l y f ound at Bul andi bagh near Pat na i n Bi har, t he anci ent si t e of Pat al i put r a. I t i s str ange t hat at t wo si t es so f ar di st ant bot h shoul d yi el d l ar ge br i cks of t he same di mensi ons. The pi l l ar s, f l oor s, st atues and i mport ant scul ptures were execut ed

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i n whi t e or gr ey l i mestone r esembl i ng mar bl e. No other st one was used, and i t was br ought t o t he si t e by means of t he r i ver and l anded at a st one- bui l t whar f t hat st i l l r emai ns ( see Pl at e I , 12) . The whar f i s about 250 f eet i n l engt h, 50 f eet wi de and 6 f eet i n hei ght al ong t he r i ver f r ont and at bot h ends. Thr ee r ows of br oken st one pi l l ar s extendi ng f r om end t o end show t hat i t was or i gi nal l y pr ovi ded wi t h a wooden r oof , pr obabl y t hatched. I t seems t o have ser ved as a ki nd of Cust oms House, wi t h a r ow of shops or godowns on ei t her si de. Her e, t he Kr i shna i s

more t han hal f a mi l e wi de, wi t h numerous sandbanks and huge r ocks i n i t s bed, but dur i ng t he r ai ns i t i s a ver y l ar ge r i ver and navi gabl e f or count r y cr af t r i ght down t o t he sea.

On pl an and i n const r uct i on, t he Andhr a st upas di f f er f r om t hose f ound i n t he Nor t h. They ar e bui l t i n t he f or m of a wheel wi t h hub, spokes and t i r e al l compl ete and execut ed i n br i ckwork ( see pl an of st upa On Pl at e I I I ) . The open spaces between t he r adi at i ng wal l s wer e f i l l ed up wi t h eart h, and t he dome or br i ck casi ng bui l t over t he st r uct ur e. As no t r aces of st r uct ur al st one t ees have been di scover ed i n

Souther n I ndi a, we may presume that t hey were bui l t of br i ck and pl ast er and decor at ed wi t h t he r ai l ornament i n t he l at t er materi al . The st upas were cover ed wi t h chunam, or f i ne shel l - l i me pl ast er , f r om t op t o bot t om, ant i t he moul di ng and other ornament at i on was usual l y execut ed i n st ucco or pl ast er . The dome r est ed on a ci r cul ar pl at f or m or dr um f r om 2 t o 5 f eet i n hei ght accor di ng t o t he si ze of t he monument . On t op of t he drum was a nar r ow pat h enci r cl i ng t he f oot of t he dome, and on each of t he f our si des, f aci ng t he car di nal poi nt s, was a r ect angul ar pl at f orm r esembl i ng an al t ar and t he same hei ght as t he dr um. I n t he i nscri pt i ons t hese pl at f or ms are descr i bed as ayaka- pl at f or ms, because

t hey usual l y suppor t ed a gr oup of f i ve st one pi l l ar s, cal l ed ayaka- khambhas ( ayaka- pi l l ar s) . The pr eci se meani ng of t he word ayaka i s not known, but i t i s used much as we use t he wor d ' al t ar . ' From t he has- r el i ef r epr esent at i ons of st upas r ecover ed f r om


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t he Nagar j unakonda and Amaravat i st upas t he ayaka- pl at f or m appear s as an al t ar , on whi ch pi ous - donor s ar e por t r ayed deposi t i ng t hei r of f er i ngs of f r ui t and f l ower s. Al l Andhr a st upas had t hose pl at f or ms, but onl y t hose bel ongi ng t o l ar ge and i mpor t ant monument s were pr ovi ded wi t h pi l l ars. As each gr oup consi st ed of f i ve pi l l ar s, t he t ot al number of pi l l ars f or each st upa so decorated was t went y. The i nscr i pt i ons show t hat t hese pi l l ar s r epr esent gi f t s made t o t he st upa i n honour of t he

Buddha and t o t he mer i t of t he pi ous donor s who provi ded t he money f or t he work; hut no i nf ormat i on i s gi ven as t o t he meani ng or symbol i sm of the pi l l ar s.

The chi ef scenes por t r ayed i n t he scul pt ur es r ecover ed f r om t hese Andhr a st upas r epr esent t he f i ve gr eat ' mi r acl es, ' or chi ef event s i n t he l i f e of t he Buddha, namel y, t he Nat i vi t y, Renunci at i on, Sambodhi , Fi r st Sermon, and t he Buddha' s Deat h. These f i ve i nci dent s ar e por t r ayed over and over agai n, ei t her as beaut i f ul l y execut ed bas- r el i ef scenes, or el se as mere convent i onal symbol s, such as a t r ee, wheel and

st upa. I n t hi s f orm t hey are f ound engr aved on some of t he bases of t he ayaka- pi l l ar s bel ongi ng t o t he Amar avat i St upa now i n t he Madras Museum; and I di scover ed at Nagar j unakonda f our bases of ayaka- pi l l ar s each or nament ed wi t h a bas- r el i ef r epr esent at i on of t he ' Fi r st Ser mon. ' The pr esence of t hese symbol s car ved on t he bases of t he pi l l ars seems t o i ndi cat e t hat t hey wer e set up t o commemorate t he f i ve great mi r acl es; j ust as we know Asoka erect ed pi l l ar s t o mar k t he sacred spot s where t hese event s are sai d t o have occur r ed i n Nepal and Bi har . As i t was i mpossi bl e f or t hose l i vi ng i n t he Kr i shna di st r i ct t o er ect t he pi l l ar s an t he aot ual spot s i n Nor t her n I ndi a, t hey seem t o have hi t upon

t he i dea of convent i onsl i si ng t he pi l l ar s i nt o gr oups of f i ve f or t he sake of conveni ence, so t hat t he events coul d be commemorated l ocal l y, and al so, per haps, wi t h a vi ew t o addi ng t o t he spl endour and i mpor t ance of t he st upas, as i n t he case of the Amaravat i Stupa, wher e t he st one casi ng t o t he dome, t he ayaka- pl at f or ms and pi l l ar s, and t he st one r ai l i ng, were al l added t o t he monument i n t he second or t hi r d cent ur y A. D. Thi s we know f r om t he i nscr i pt i ons bel ongi ng t o t hat monument . I n ear l i er t i mes t he ayaka- pi l l ars were unknown, and t hey onl y occur i n t he Andhr a st upas of t hat per i od.

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The pl at f or ms and pi l l ar s var y i n si ze and hei ght accor di ng t o t he di mensi ons of t he st upa t o whi ch t hey bel ong. The pi l l ar s var y f r om 10 t o 30 f eet i n hei ght , wi t h squar e bases and oct agonal shaf t s. The t ops are r ound, showi ng t hat t hey coul d not have suppor t ed capi t al s or any ot her ki nd of or nament s. I n some of t he bas- r el i ef pi ctur es of st upas, t he pi l l ar s ar e shown crowned wi t h t r i sul a or nament s, t he cent r e pi l l ar of t en wi t h a mi ni at ur e st upa as capi t al . Thi s i s i ncor r ect and pur el y decor at i ve, as t hey never suppor t ed anyt hi ng and coul d not do so as

t he t ops were r ound, so t hat any ornament pl aced t her e woul d f al l i mmedi at el y t o t he gr ound. I n t hi s case t he or nament s mer el y i ndi cat e t hat t he pi l l ar s wer e dedi cat ed t o t he Buddha, and t he i nscr i pt i ons conf i rm thi s .


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I n t he scul pt ur es t wo ki nds of st upas ar e depi ct ed- - one a pl ai n br i ck and pl ast er st r uct ur e l i ke t he st upas of t he Asokan age; and t he ot her i s s i mi l ar i n al l r espects, except t hat t he br i ck sur f ace i s f aced wi t h r i chl y car ved st one sl abs embedded i n mort ar . Thi s st one casi ng was appl i ed onl y t o t he f ace of t he dr um, ayaka- pl at f orms and l ower por t i on of t he dome. The upper port i on of t he domes of al l Andhr a st upas was execut ed i n br i ck and

pl ast er and decor at ed wi t h a char act er i st i c gar l and ornament enci r cl i ng t he dome. Thi s ornament al ways appear s i n t he has- r el i ef r epr esent at i ons of st upas, and i s i n t he f or m of a br oad f est oon decor at ed wi t h bi g l ot us medal l i ons execut ed i n pl ast er .

The st one casi ng was appl i ed onl y t o t he base of t he dome, as i t i s obvi ous t hat f l at st one sl abs coul d not be f i xed t o t he cur ved sur f ace of t he upper por t i on of t he dome. I n or der t o do t hi s, each st one woul d have t o be speci al l y cut wi t h a convex f r ont and a concave back, and even t hen i t woul d be very di f f i cul t t o keep t he stones i n posi t i on, so t hi s

par t of t he st upas was al ways i n pl ast er . These decor at ed st upas were f aced part l y wi t h st one sl abs and par t l y wi t h pl ast er or nament at i on, t he t wo mater i al s bei ng used t ogether , and when t he work was compl eted t he st upa wi t s gi ven a coat i ng of shel l - l i me pl ast er f r om t op t o bot t om, t o hi de any def ects or i nequal i t i es i n. t he wor k. For t hi s pur pose, t he whi t e l i mest one used f or t hi s work was speci al l y sui t abl e, as i t was of t he r i ght col our and t akes whi t ewash or pl ast er r eadi l y, bei ng ver y absorbent . I t was no doubt t hese consi der at i ons and t he f act t hat i t i s sof t and easy t o wor k when f r eshl y quar r i ed, t hat l ed t o i t s gener al use i n t he Kr i shna val l ey. From t he r emai ns of sl at e- st one

bas- r el i ef s and pl ast er or nament r ecover ed f r om t he r ui ned st upas of Gandhara, i t seems t hat t hey were decor ated i n t he same manner as t hose erect ed by t he Andhr as. The i nscr i pt i ons show t hat t her e was consi derabl e i nt ercour se between t he Buddhi st s of Gandhar a and t hei r co- r el i gi oni st s i n t he Sout h, and i n al l pr obabi l i t y t he Andhr as adopt ed t he cust om f r om t he Gandhara bui l der s i n t he second cent ur y A. D. , or t her eabout s. Gandhar a i nf l uence i s al so st r ongl y marked i n many of t he Andhr a bas- r el i ef s and st atues i n t he r ound. Tr aces of Roman i nf l uence ar e al so mani f est i n a f ew of t he scul pt ur es and i n t wo smal l gol d medal l i ons r ecovered f r omNagar j unakonda.

Thi s i s not sur pr i si ng, as we know t hat i n t he second and t hi r d cent ur i es of our er a t her e was consi der abl e sea- bor ne t r ade bet ween Rome and t hi s par t of Sout her n I ndi a.

When compl et e, t he Gr eat Stupa at Nagar j unakonda must have been a per f ect exampl e of a pl ai n Andhra s tupa (Pl ate I I , f i g. 2) . I t i s bui l t of l arge br i cks measur i ng 20' x 10' x 3" , and i n t he usual f or m of a wheel ( Pl at e I I I , f i g. 2) . I t was cover ed wi t h pl aster f r omt op t o bot t om, t he dome bei ng decor at ed wi t h t he usual gar l and ornament , and t he dr um wi t h a f ew si mpl e moul di ngs execut ed i n pl aster . No st one was used i n i t s const r uct i on, t he ayaka- pi l l ar s al one

bei ng of t hat mat er i al , end, as at Amar avat i , t hey pr obabl y r epr esent a l at er addi t i on t o t he st upa. They wer e gi f t s, as t hei r i nscr i pt i ons show, and wer e erected bet ween t he second and t hi r d cent uri es A. D. The di amet er of t he st upa i ncl udi ng t he dr um i s 106


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f eet . The dr um i s r ai sed 5 f eet above t he gr ound l evel , and t he t ot al hei ght of t he monument , excl udi ng t he t ee, must have been about 70 t o 80 f eet . On t op of t he drum i s a nar r ow pat h, 7 f eet wi de, ext endi ng al l r ound t he base of t he dome. No t r aces of st eps

p. 190

up t o t hi s pat h wer e f ound, but i t i s possi bl e t hat

t hey may have exi st ed. No st eps are depi otep r edepi o ed i n t he has- r el i ef r epr esent at i ons of st upas, so perhaps t here wer e none t o any of t hese monument s. The ayaka- pl at f orms are 22 f eet i n l ength and 5 f eet i n wi dt h, and t he bases of t he f i ve st one pi l l ar s wer e secur el y bui l t i nt o t he br i ckwor k. I n t he st one- f aced st upas, t he ayaka- pl at f orms were t he most hi ghl y decor at ed f eat ur es of t he st upa. Her e t he Andhr a scul pt or exhi bi t ed hi s best wor ks of ar t , par t l y because t hese pl at f orms were r egarded as ver y hol y st r uct ur es r esembl i ng al t ar s on whi ch vot i ve of f er i ngs were pl aced, and mai nl y per haps, because t hey f aced t he f our open gateways of t he st upa, so

t hat t hey were t he f i r st obj ect s seen by anyone ent er i ng t he sacred pr eci nct ar ound t he st upa. The st upa was sur r ounded by a processi onal pat h 13 f eet i n wi dt h, and encl osed by a wooden r ai l i ng st andi ng on br i ck f oundat i ons, whi ch st i l l r emai n. The gat eways were f ormed by ext endi ng t he r ai l i ng out wards so as t o f orm a scr een on each si de of t he ent r ance, but t her e were appar ent l y no t r ansoms spanni ng t he ent r ance, l i ke t hose of t he Sanchi t or anas. No t r aces of st one r ai l s or t or onas wer e f ound at Nagar j unakonda, and i t i s qui t e cl ear t hat none exi st ed t here.

As a r ul e, t he f ai l s and gat es wer e const r uct ed

of carved woodwork, no doubt r est i ng on br i ck f oundat i ons, t o pr ot ect t hem f r om damp and t he r avages of whi t e ant e. I t was onl y i n ver y speci al cases t hat t hey were ever execut ed i n st one, and t hen t hey were merel y st one model s of car ved wooden or i gi nal s .

When f i r st di scover ed, t he Gr eat St upa at Nagar j unakonda was a l arge mound of eart h and broken br i ck over gr own wi t h gr ass and j ungl e, wi t h t wo ayaka- pi l l ar s st andi ng er ect , t he r emai ni ng ei ght een pi l l ar s havi ng f al l en. As t he whol e of t he dome of t he st upa had been demol i shed, t he ayaka- pi l l ar s and

pl at f orms t hrown down and broken by t r easur e seeker s, t he chances of f i ndi ng any r el i es i n t he edi f i ce appeared very r emot e i ndeed. The f i r st t hi ng was t o r emove t he debri s and t r ace out t he pl an of t he st r uct ur e and r ecover t he br oken pi l l ar s. When t hi s work was f i ni shed and t he excavat i ons compl eted, t he appearance of t he Gr eat Stupa may be gat her ed f r om Pl at e I I , f i g. 2.

For t unat el y, i nst ead of pi eci ng t he r el i es i n t he cent r e of t he Gr eat St upa, t hey were deposi t ed i n one of t he out er chambers on t he nor t h- west ern si de of t he st upa, wher e t hey escaped t he not i ce of t he t r easure seeker s who wr ecked t he monument ( Pl ate I I I ,

f i g. 1) . As t he sl upa cont ai ned 40 chamber s, al l of whi ch had t o be excavated down t o t he nat ural ground l evel , t he excavat i on of t hi s monument was a ver y l abor i ous t ask t hat t ook a mont h t o compl ete. At l ast , when we had gi ven up al l hopes of f i ndi ng


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anythi ng of i nt er est , one of t he cool i es not i ced a smal l br oken ] pot i n t he nor t h- west er n cor ner of t he chamber mar ked wi t h a, cr oss on t he pl an ( Pl at e I I I , f i g. 2) . The pot had been cr ushed when t he chamber was f i l l ed wi t h ear t h by t he Buddhi st s, and al l t hat r emai ned i s shown i n Pl at e I V, f i g. 1. On t he sur f ace were a f ew whi t e cr yst al beads and a, t i ny gol d box. Af t er car ef ul l y si f t i ng t he cont ent s of t he pot t he f ol l owi ng obj ect s wer e f ound: - a f r agment of bone pl aced i n a smal l r ound gol d r el i quar y t hr ee- quar t er s

of an i nch i n di amet er . Thi s was pl aced i n a l i t t l e si l ver casket , shaped l i ke a mi ni at ur e st upa, 2 1/ 2 i nches i n hei ght , t oget her wi t h a f ew gol d f l ower s, pear l s, gar net s and cryst al s. The t hr ee l ar ge cryst al beads and t he r ound earornament were pl aced i n t he pot and not i n t he casket . The l at t er unf or t unat el y was very cor r oded and broken, but a r epl i ca was made, whi ch appears i n t he phot ogr aph showi ng t he f i nds r ecover ed f r om t he t omb ( Pl at e I V, f i g. 2) . The ear t henwar e pot cont ai ni ng t he casket and r el i quary was pl aced ori gi nal l y i n t he cor ner of t he chamber, whi ch was f i l l ed up wi t h eart h as soon as t he consecr at i on cer emony was over . The br i ck dome was

t hen bui l t over t he r emai ns, and t he pl ast er i ng and decorat i on of t he st upa compl eted. No t r aces of ornament al pl aster were f ound i n t he debr i s r ound t he monument , except por t i ons of si mpl e moul di ngs t hat once decor at ed t he pl i nt h and cor ni ce of t he dr um. I t must have been a per f ect l y pl ai n st r uct ur e l i ke t hose of t he Asokan age bef ore t he ayaka- pi l l ars were added i n t he second cent ur y A. D. ( Pl at e I I , f i g. 2) .

p. 191

I n t he i nscr i pt i ons bel ongi ng t o t he Gr eat St upa, t he monument i s cal l ed t he "Mahachet i ya of t he Lord,

t he Supreme Buddha, " cl ear l y showi ng t hat t he t omb was consecr ated t o t he Gr eat Teacher and t o nobody el se. The di scover y of t he dhal u, or bone r el i c, proves t hat t he monument was a dhat ugarbha, or ' t omb cont ai ni ng a r el i c, ' and t hat i t was not a mer e ' dedi cat or y' st upa. The l at t er wer e memor i al st upas, whi ch cont ai ned no r el i cs, and, l i ke Asoka' s pi l l ar s, wer e erect ed on cel ebr at ed si t es sacred t o t he Buddha, such as hi s bi r t hpl ace, and so on. I t i s, t heref ore, obvi ous t hat t he Gr eat St upa di d not bel ong t o t hi s cl ass of memor i al monument . The i nscr i pt i ons do not def i ni t el y st at e why t he st upa was bui l t ; t hey mer el y st at e t hat t he ayaka- pi l l ar s

were dedi cat ed t o t he Buddha, and t hat t hey were Bet up by t he pr i ncess Chamt i si r i and ot her r oyal l adi es of t he same house. Supposi ng t he st upa t o have been al r eady i n exi st ence pr i or t o t he er ect i on of t he pi l l ar s, i t woul d have been necessar y f i r st t o enl ar ge t he dr um and bui l d t he ayaka- pl at f or ms t o accommodat e t he pi l l ars , and t hen r epl ast er and decor at e t he st upa f r om t op t o bot t om t o compl et e t he wor k. I n f act , i t woul d have meant r ebui l di ng t he whol e of t he ext er i or of t he monument . Dr . Vogel i s of opi ni on t hat t he i nscr i pt i ons show t hat t he Mahachet i ya was " f ounded " by Chamt i si r i , but i t i s by no means cl ear whet her she bui l t , r ebui l t , or mer el y cont r i but ed t o t he st r uct ur e. I f she di d bui l d

t he st upa, t hen i t was she who enshr i ned t he r el i c f ound i n t he chamber ; but i t i s i mpossi bl e t o bel i eve t hat so gr eat an event as t hi s coul d have occur r ed wi t hout t he f act bei ng recor ded i n at l east one of t he many i nscr i pt i ons r ef er r i ng t o t he st upa. We know


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t hat t he monument was consecr at ed to t he Buddha, as t he i nscr i pt i ons ar e qui t e cl ear on t hi s poi nt . Ther ef or e, i t i s r easonabl e t o assume t hat t he r el i c r ecover ed f r om t he t omb r epr esent s a dhat u, or cor por eal r el i c of t he Gr eat Teacher , ot her wi se t her e coul d be no possi bl e r eason f or cal l i ng t he t omb t he " Mahachet i ya of t he Lord, t he Supreme Buddha. " That t he Mahachet i ya was r egarded as a par t i cul ar l y hol y shr i ne i s obvi ous f r om t he t one and wor di ng of t he i nscri pt i ons f ound at t he si t e. Agai n, t he si ze of

t he t omb, t he number of pi ous donat i ons made by l adi es of r oyal bl ood, and t he f act t hat pi l gr i ms came f r om ai l over I ndi a and Ceyl on t o r ever ence i t , af f or d t est i mony of t hi s.

Unf ort unat el y, t he meani ng of some of t he words and phr ases met wi t h i n t he i nscr i pt i ons i s ver y obscure. Comment i ng upon t hi s, Dr . Vogel says- "A consi der abl e di f f i cul t y i n t he way of i nt er pr et i ng t he Nagar j uni konda i nscr i pt i ons i s t he want of preci si on of whi ch t hey show ampl e evi dence. Consi deri ng t hat t hese i nscr i pt i ons wer e meant t o be per petual r ecor ds of pi ous donat i ons made by l adi es

of r oyal bl ood, t he car el ess manner i n whi ch t hey have been r ecor ded i s ast oni shi ng. Not onl y si ngl e syl l abl es but whol e words have been omi t t ed, " Dr . Hi r ananda Sast r i , Epi gr aphi st to t he Gover nment of I ndi a, who has al so made a st udy of t hese i nscri pt i ons, f ound t he same di f f i cul t y, and, as mi ght be expect ed i n t he ci r cumst ances, hi s i nt er pr et at i on of t he pr eci se meani ng of cer t ai n wor ds di f f er s f r om Dr . Vogel ' s. The r ecor ds bel ongi ng t o t he Mahachet i ya open wi t h an i nvocat i on t o t he Buddha, who i s extol l ed i n a l ong st r i ng of l audat or y epi t het s. Dr . Hi r ananda Sast r i i s of opi ni on t hat t he st yl e and wor di ng of t he i nvocat i on shows t hat t he Mahachct i ya has been speci f i ed i n t hese i nscr i pt i ons

as " pr otected by t he corporeal r emai ns of t he Buddha and t hat t he geni t i ve case i s used here t o di scri mi nat e t hi s st upa f r om ot her s not l ar l y consecr ated. Ni ne r ui ned st upas were di scover ed at Nagar j unakonda, f our of t hem hi ghl y decor at ed wi t h st one bas- r el i ef s si mi l ar t o t hose r ecover ed f r om Amaravat i , but t he Mahachet i ya i s t he onl y one bear i ng i nscri pt i ons i ndi cat i ng t hat i t was consecr ated t o t he Buddha.

The di scover y of t he r el i c and t he f act t hat i nscr i pt i on B. 2 of Dr . Vogel ' s Li st , def i ni t el y gi ves t he name of t he monument as t he Mahachet i ya of

t he Buddha, seem concl usi ve evi dence that t he monument was or i gi nal l y bui l t t o enshr i ne some corporeal r emai ns of t he Buddha, as Dr . Hi r ananda Sast r i mai nt ai ns. The st upa was pr obabl y bui l t l ong bef or e Chamt i si r i set up t he pi l l ar s and r ebui l t t he st r uct ur e i n t he second cent ur y A. D. , or t her e about s, whi ch

p. 192

woul d expl ai n why t he i nscr i pt i ons gi ve no i nf or mat i on about t he consecr at i on or how t he r el i c was obt ai ned. I f t he Mahachet i ya di d exi t pr i or t o

t he second cent ur y A. D. , t he f act t hat i t cont ai ned corporeal r emai ns of t he Gr eat Teacher woul d have been known t hroughout I ndi a and Ceyl on, t hus maki ng i t unnecessar y t o r ecor d t hi s i nf or mat i on i n i nscr i pt i ons added t o t he monument i n l ater t i mes.


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We know f r om t he i nscr i pt i ons r ecover ed f r om Sanchi , Sarnat h and Amaravat i t hat t he gr eat st upas t hat exi st ed at t hese t hr ee f amous si t es were al l r ebui l t i n l at er t i mes. These i nscr i pt i ons gi ve t he names of some of t he pi ous donor s who f ound t he money f or t he addi t i ons t o t hese monument s, but , l i ke t he Nagar j unakonda, i nscr i pt i ons, t hey gi ve no i nf or mat i on concer ni ng t he pur pose f or whi ch t he st upas were bui l t , or when t hey wer e er ect ed, j ust

t he very poi nts whi ch we shoul d so much l i ke t o know. The Amar avat i i nscr i pt i ons show t hat t he st one casi ng, ayaka- pi l l ar s and st one r ai l i ng wer e added t o t he Gr eat St upa at t hat pl ace i n t he second or t hi r d cent ur y A. D. , t hat i s, at t he same per i od as t hat i n whi ch Chamt i si r i set up t he pi l l ar s and r ebui l t t he Mahachet i ya at Nagarj unakonda. Or i gi nal l y, t he Amaravat i Stupa seems t o have been a, pl ai n br i ck and pl ast er st upa si mi l ar t o t he Mahachet i ya, and i t must have been a par t i cul ar l y hol y shr i ne, el se i t woul d never have been enl arged and decor ated i n so cost l y a f ashi on. Per haps when Chamt i si r i l ear ned what was t aki ng pl ace at Amar avat i , she f el t i t i ncumbent upon

her sel f , as t he l eadi ng devot ee of t he Buddha at Nagar j unakonda, t o r edecorate and i mprove t he Mahachet i ya.

Per sonal l y, l i ke Dr . Hi r ananda Sast r i , I do not t hi nk t her e can be any doubt t hat t he Mahachet i ya was or i gi nal l y bui l t t o enshr i ne some cor por eal r emai ns of t he Buddha, and t hat t he f r agment of bone f ound i n t he gol d r el i quar y r epr esent s a genui ne dhatu, or r el i c, of t he Gr eat Teacher . Ther e i s no r eason why such a r el i c coul d not have been obt ai ned f r om Nor t her n I ndi a l ong bef or e t he days of Chamt i si r i .
