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Amaravathi, Palnadu district

Coordinates: 16°34′23″N 80°21′29″E / 16.573°N 80.358°E / 16.573; 80.358
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the historic city. For the planned capital city of Andhra Pradesh, see Amaravati. For other uses, see Amaravati (disambiguation).

Amaravathi
Village
Ratha Yatra ceremony after Sivaratri
Buddha statue
Town entrance
AP Museum
Dhyana Buddha Ghat
Dhyana Buddha Museum
Amaravati Mahastupa
Etymology: Abode of the immortals
Map
Dynamic map
Amaravathi is located in India
Amaravathi
Amaravathi
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Amaravathi is located in Andhra Pradesh
Amaravathi
Amaravathi
Amaravathi (Andhra Pradesh)
Coordinates: 16°34′23″N 80°21′29″E / 16.573°N 80.358°E / 16.573; 80.358
CountryIndia
StateAndhra Pradesh
DistrictGuntur
MandalAmaravathi mandal
Founded1790
Founded byVasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu
Named forAmaralingeswara Temple
Government
[1]
 • TypePanchayati raj
 • BodyAmaravathi gram panchayat
Area
[2]
 • Total1,524 ha (3,766 acres)
Population
 (2011)[3]
 • Total13,400
 • Density880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
522020
Area code+91–8645
Vehicle registrationAP

Amaravathi is a village located on the banks of the Krishna River in the Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh, India.[4] It serves as the administrative centre of Amaravathi mandal[5] and lies within the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region. Known for its cultural heritage, Amaravathi lends its name to the state's newly planned capital, Amaravati, located 35 kilometers to the east.[6] Known for its rich cultural and religious heritage, Amaravathi holds a prominent place in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

Amaravathi is notable for its ancient Amaravati Stupa, a major Buddhist monument constructed between the 2nd century BCE and the 3rd century CE.[7][8] The stupa, now protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, is an example of the Amaravati School of Art, a style that influenced Buddhist art across South Asia and Southeast Asia. The village is located near Dhanyakataka (present-day Dharanikota), which once served as the capital of the Satavahana dynasty.[9] The ancient Buddhist stupa and other ruins make up one of the centrally protected Monuments of National Importance.[10]

In the late 18th century, Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu, a local zamindar, re-established Amaravathi as the capital of his estate after relocating from Chintapalli. Named after the sacred Amareswara Temple, one of the Pancharama Kshetras, Amaravathi is also home to the Amaravathi Heritage Centre and Museum, preserving artifacts from its ancient past.[11] Additionally, the village features the Dhyana Buddha statue, a prominent modern sculpture in a meditative posture, representing its significant Buddhist heritage.[12]

Today, Amaravathi is recognized under the Government of India's Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme for heritage conservation and development.[13][14] The village has a population of around 13,400, as per the 2011 Census.

Toponymy

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The name Amaravathi translates to "The Abode of Immortals."[15] It is located near Dhanyakataka.[4]

History

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Early history

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Tradition of Kalachakra Tantra holds that Gautama Buddha visited the Andhaka region (Dhanyakataka) and delivered sermons there. Buddhism was established in Amaravati before the arrival of the Maurya Empire, and the city served as the nucleus of a thriving Buddhist culture during that period.[16] Amaravathi is said to have a continuous history spanning at least 2,300 years.[17] During the period when the region was on the periphery of Mauryan Empire under Ashoka, from 225 BCE to 229 CE, Satavahana dynasty emerged as a dominant power. Amaravathi served as their eastern capital, while Pratisthana, known today as Paithan, was their western capital.[18] The Amaravati Stupa, is the centerpiece of the most significant Buddhist site in South India. Discovered by a local zamindar in the late eighteenth century, the stupa has been the subject of multiple excavations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Although the exact dating of the so-called Mauryan inscriptions remains uncertain, it is clear that the history of the Amaravathi stupa includes an earlier construction phase, likely from the post-Mauryan period (c. 200–100 BCE). The fragmentary and repurposed elements of early sculptures indicate that the original stupa and its architectural components underwent substantial renovations during later construction phases.[19]

During the Satavahana rule in the Deccan, the Amaravathi region and Sannati (in Gulbarga District, Karnataka) became significant centers of a unique art tradition, commonly known as the Amaravati School of Art. This tradition is comparable to the Mathura and Gandhara schools in the Central and Northwestern regions of the Indian subcontinent. Buddhist sculptures, such as those of Vajrasana, Muchulinda Naga, relic caskets, and bas-reliefs depicting key episodes from Buddha's life, as well as memorial stones from Sannati, share a striking similarity in theme, characteristics, style, and even the type of rock used, with those from the Amaravati region. Together, they formed a distinct cultural zone during the 1st to 3rd centuries CE in the Andhra-Karnataka region.[20] Bhattiprolu and Amaravathi, may have played a significant role in the continuous spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka. The sculptures, including those of Buddha, Bodhisattva, and other panel sculptures, were created in these regions and exported to Sri Lanka.[21] Throughout this era, Amaravati's monasteries and university attracted scholars and students from across India, as well as East and Southeast Asia. Even after the decline of the Satavahanas, the Ikshvaku dynasty, which ruled from approximately the 3rd to the 4th century CE, continued to support and sustain the Buddhist institutions at Amaravati.[22]

Medieval history

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The Skanda Purana gives a picture of the place and the Shiva temple located here.[23]

Walter Elliot (1803–1887) excavated the Amaravati stupa, with significant portions of it being transported to the British Museum, where they became known as the "Elliot Marbles."[24]

The Great Stūpa or Mahācaitya

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Main article: Amaravati Stupa

The most important historic monument in Amaravathi village is the Mahachaitya. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India which maintains a site museum beside the ruins. In 2006 the Dalai Lama visited and performed Kalachakra Mahasamalanam during the Kalachakra festival.[25]

Amaravathi stupam అమరావతి స్తూపం

Geography

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Amaravathi is situated at 16°34′46″N 80°18′40″E / 16.579444°N 80.311111°E / 16.579444; 80.311111. It is spread over an area of 1,524 ha (3,770 acres).[2]

Demographics

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Gram panchayat office in Amaravathi

As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 13,400 with 3,316 households. The total population constitute, 6,432 males and 6,958 females—a sex ratio of 1,082 females per 1,000 males. 1,321 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 647 are boys and 674 are girls—a ratio of 1,042 per 1,000. The average literacy rate stands at 71.3% with 8,617 literates, higher than the state average of 67.4%.[3][26]

Government and politics

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Amaravathi gram panchayat is the local self-government of the village.[1] It is divided into wards and each ward is represented by a ward member.[27] The village as a part of Amaravathi mandal, which is part of the Pedakurapadu assembly constituency.[28] The present MLA representing the constituency is Bhashyam Praveen from TDP.[29]

Culture

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Panorama of a cultural heritage museum
Panorama of Amaravathi Cultural Heritage Museum

The town is a centre of pilgrimage for both Hindus and Buddhists. The inscriptions on the walls of the Amareswara temple depicts the reign of Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu who ruled before the advent of British rule. He was well known for his benevolence, munificence and for the construction of a large number of temples and education centres in the Krishna River delta.[30] It also hosts a 125-foot tall statue of the Buddha, known as the Dhyana Buddha.[12] The ancient structures and replicas can be found at Kalachakra museum, which was renamed the Amaravathi Heritage Centre and Museum.[11] The ancient Buddhist stupa and other ruins make up one of the centrally protected Monuments of National Importance.[10] The main Hindu festivals celebrated are Mahasivaratri and the Navaratri. The 30th Kalachakra festival, a popular Buddhist ritual, was held at Amaravathi in the first week of January 2006. It is one of the oldest tourist places for Buddhists.[31]

Transport

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Amaravathi bus station

The only means of connectivity for the village is by road. The Vijayawada–Amaravathi Road connects the village with cities of Vijayawada, Tenali, Guntur, and with the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region areas of Undavalli, Penumaka, Rayapudi.[32] The Guntur–Amaravathi Road connects it with the district headquarters, Guntur.[33] It also has road connectivity from Sattenapalle, Mangalagiri and Krosuru. APSRTC operates buses from major bus stations like NTR bus station in Guntur, Pandit Nehru bus station in Vijayawada and the Tenali bus station.[33][34][35] The village has no rail connectivity.

A waterway categorised as class–III is planned from Pulichintala to Prakasam Barrage, which connects the nearby villages of Harishchandrapuram and Vykuntapuram.[36]

Education

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As per the school information report for the academic year 2018–19, the village has a total of 17 schools. These schools include 4 MPP, one KGBV and 12 private schools.[37]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Gram Panchayat Identification Codes" (PDF). Saakshar Bharat Mission. National Informatics Centre. p. 95. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b "District Census Hand Book : Guntur (Part B)" (PDF). Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh. 2011. pp. 14, 252. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Population". Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. ^ a b Miryala, Dr Ramesh Kumar (2015). Trends, Challenges & Innovations in Management – Volume III. Zenon Academic Publishing. p. 278. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  5. ^ "District Census Handbook : Guntur" (PDF). Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh. 2011. pp. 5, 328–329. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  6. ^ "After 18 centuries, Amaravati set to become a 'capital' again". The Times of India. 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Amaravathi". British Museum. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Forget the Kohinoor, could we have the Amaravathi Stupa sculptures back please?". Scroll.in. May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017.
  9. ^ V.Rishi Kumar (23 January 2018). "The capital of Satavahanas has come a full circle". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Centrally Protected Monuments". Archeological Survey of India. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  11. ^ a b Varma, P. Sujatha (25 July 2016). "Kalachakra Museum regains lost sheen". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Tallest Dhyana Buddha to be ready in Amaravathi". Deccan Chronicle. 15 September 2014.
  13. ^ "Heritage City Development Scheme (HRIDAY) launched : Centre to fund entire expenditure". Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, India. 21 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Spotlight to shift on intangible heritage". The Hindu. November 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  15. ^ Ravikumar, Aruna (13 August 2016). "A river of talent". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  16. ^ "The Buddha preached at Dharanikota". The Hindu. 25 August 2005. Archived from the original on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Ancient sculptures found in Amaravati". The Hindu. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
  18. ^ Gangaiah, K. (2018). "Social Reform in Medieval Andhra: Caste and Untouchability". Indian History Congress. 79: 5. JSTOR 26906262.
  19. ^ Shimada, Akira (2006). "The Great Railing at Amarāvatī: An Architectural and Chronological Reconstruction". Artibus Asiae Publishers. 66 (1): 89.
  20. ^ Sundara, A. (1984). "Presidential address: Archaeology and national integration". Indian History Congress. 45: 854.
  21. ^ Rajan, K. (February 2008). "Situating the Beginning of Early Historic Times in Tamil Nadu: Some Issues and Reflections". Social Scientist. 36 (1): 53.
  22. ^ Teekah, Ethan (11 August 2024). "Amaravati | Andhra Pradesh, Capital, Map, History, & Development | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  23. ^ Skanda Purana In: Puranic Encyclopedia, 1975, Vettam Mani, Motilal Banarsidas, New Delhi
  24. ^ Noltie, H. J. (October 2011). "A botanical group in Lahore, 1864". Archives of Natural History. 38 (2) – via Edinburgh University Press.
  25. ^ "Dalai Lama's second visit to A.P. in a decade". The Hindu. 9 February 2017. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  26. ^ "Literacy of AP (Census 2011)" (PDF). Official Portal of Andhra Pradesh Government. p. 43. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  27. ^ Seetharam, Mukkavilli (1990). Citizen Participation in Rural Development. Mittal Publications. p. 34. ISBN 9788170992271.
  28. ^ "Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 22. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  29. ^ "Member's Report". Andhra Pradesh Legislature Assembly. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  30. ^ Sri Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu, 1973, K. Lakshminarayana, Ponnuru <http://www.openlibrary.org/details/rajavasireddyven022548mbp Archived 25 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine>
  31. ^ "India forgot Buddha for 1,000 years: Sircar". The Times of India. 23 June 2015.
  32. ^ "Four lane road to Andhra Pradesh new capital soon".
  33. ^ a b Srinivas, Rajulapudi (25 October 2013). "25 passengers rescued from stranded APSRTC bus in Narsaraopet". The Hindu. Guntur. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  34. ^ "RTC to introduce bus services in Guntur city". Deccan Chronicle. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  35. ^ "Bus services to Amaravathi from Guntur". Archived from the original on 16 May 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  36. ^ "River Route Planned for Amaravathi". The New Indian Express. 26 November 2015. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  37. ^ "School Information". Commissionerate of School Education. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.

Bibliography

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