The Rise of Amaravathi

Even from the second century B. C., Amaravathi started to get prominence due to the discovery of the stamped terracotta tiles of the Mahasanghika school of Buddhism. Of the many ancient monuments, Amaravati reached the pinnacle of its glory when the great Amaravati Stupa, also called the Mahachaitya was built. Far from being just a mere worship shrine, this stupa had carved and sculpted structures which point to how this edifice could have been an artistic and architectural marvel.

This extremely important site was later patronized by almost all the known ruling dynasties of the region, the Satavahanas and Ikshvakus to name a few. Hindu seekers came to the site, but soon scholars, monks, and pilgrims from the Indian subcontinent and beyond arrived at this site. It was enhanced by the philosophy of Acharya Nagarjuna, who was the patron saint of Buddhists religious centre of Amaravathi as the mecca of Mahayana Buddhism.

The Cultural and Artistic Remaining

In the field of architectural sculpture Buddhist art of Amaravathi is without parallel. Some of the important schools of art included the Amaravati School of Art which dominated the region during Buddhist dynasty and was famed for the detailed carvings and exposed vigorous sculptures. The narratives depicted on the stupa’s perdurable relief included the previous birth tales or Jatakas, the birth and previous lives of the Buddha, and other pivotal Buddhist stories.

The Suruci Jātaka, The Khadiraṅgāra Jātaka and Chaddanta Jātaka are some of these caves that depicts the artistic and plot sensational of the period. Apart from the religious practices, these artworks helped in the expounding of the Buddhist religion in the quest to assist the layman.

The Decline of Amaravathi

Originally, it developed well and become a flourishing town, but slowly it started declining; that was during the 14th century. Buddhism gradually lost its scope in the country, Hinduism emerged, and the site was left abandoned after it was-invaded by foreign powers. The one-time grand stupa was even in ruins, and the stones were either taken or broken for centuries later.

Amaravathi was brought to the main-stream of the archaeological scenario once again after it was rediscovered by the British archaeologists in the nineteenth century. Archeological diggings exposed the fact that it was once upon a time a highly prosperous but by the time of the discovery much of the opulence had already diminished. Like any other archaeological site, the finds at the location are just but a shadow of what was a magnificent civilization.

Efforts to preserve the WPA murals and their significance today

In recent years steps have been taken to protect and renovate heritage site of Amaravathi.The city of Amaravathi is one of the important heritage sites in India. Many of the artefacts that have been excavated from the site are now preserved for display at the Amaravati Archaeological Museum to affirm the historical past of the place. Also, to boost up tourism, the plans and projects to market Amaravathi as a tourist destination on the pretext of Buddhism is still progressing.

China late last year expressed interest in the Buddhist Circuits in Andhra Pradesh stating the future possibilities of cultural and spiritual tourism. They can help revive Amaravathi’s history for the next generations to learn about or if their history is not properly documented these collaborations could assist in the creation of proper historical accounts.

Conclusion

As for the history of Buddhism in India, the rise and fall of Amaravathi illustrates classic rise and fall dynamics. Amaravathi is a district which was once a hub of learning art, literature until it was ravaged by the foreign powers and then re-discovered, in a way it is still a standing testimony of the great Buddhist history. In this way, people may expect that after Berak, and with the further development of preservation work, this ancient shrine will become a glowing and significant spiritual and cultural sight. For more information on Amaravathi and its historical significance, visit Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology.