Buddhism & Jainism in Andhra

● Some historians believe that Jainism and Buddhism arose due to the
rebellion of the non-Aryan sects against the Aryan culture in India.
● Jainism is mainly popular in Karnataka and Kalinga, while Buddhism is
popular in Andhra.
● The Early dynasties who followed Jainism in Andhra were:
● Satavahanas
● Eastern Chalukyas

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● Kakatiyas
● Reasons for the emergence of Buddhism and Jainism:
○ Unrest in society due to supremacy of Brahmins
○ Expensive & complicated vedic rituals, superstitious beliefs, mantras
confused people. KH
○ Teachings of Upanishads were highly philosophical, therefore not
understood by all.
○ Rigid caste system present in India generated tensions in the society.
○ Usage of iron
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○ Desire of Vaishya to improve their social position due to increase in

trade & economic prosperity.
○ Practice of killing cows became a hindrance to the new agricultural
economy.
IY

Jainism:
● Founder of Jainism - Rishabhanatha (First Tirthankara).
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○ 'Tirthankara' means - a guide to salvation.

● Parsvanatha (23rd Tirthankara)
● Vardhamana Mahavira (24th Tirthankara)- considered as Real founder of
Jainism.
○ Disciples of Vardhamanava Mahavira are known as Gandharas.
○ The founder of Ajivika sect'Makkhali Gosala' was the philosophical
guru of Mahavira.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ● The sacred literature of Jains is called 'Anusthuti'.

Development of Jainism in Andhra:

● Mahapadmananda conquered Andhra in the 4th century BC and propagated
Jainism.
● Samprati:
○ Grandson of Ashoka
○ His Jain Guru - Suhasti

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○ A Jain Basadi was built by him in the name of Mahavira at
Vaddemanu Konda (Vardhamanapuram, Guntur district) and the local
Sadavamshis patronized it and expanded it.
○ Near this Kharavela of Kalinga built a Jain Vihara.

KH
● The Satavahana king Srimukha embraced Jainism.
● Ayyanna Mahadevi, the wife of Vengi Chalukya king Kubjavishnuvardhana,
built a Nedumbi Basadi in Bejawada and donated the village Mushinikonda
to the Kavarura Ganapathi sect of Jainism.
● Rajaraja Narendra's father Vimaladitya embraced Jainism.
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● Gunaga Vijayaditya's senani Panduranga’s close relative,Durga Raja, built a

Jain shrine called Katikabharana at Dharmavaram.
● Rashtrakuta king Indra III built a Jain temple at Danavulapadu in
Jammalamadugu taluk of Kadapa district.
IY

● King Yuddhamalla built Jinalayam in Shanigaram.

● Mailama, wife of Bethanamatya, minister of Kakatiya king Prolaraja II,
built Kadalalaya Basadi.
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● Devaraya II of Vijayanagara empire built a Jinalayam at Pan Supari Bazaar

in Vijayanagara.

Konda Kundanacharya:
● A famous Jainacharya of the Satavahana era.
● After he imbibed Jainism, he got the names Padmanandi Bhattaraka and
Vakragriva.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ● Place of Birth - Konakandla (Near Guntakal in Anantapur District)
● He was the first Jain acharya (Digambara sect) of Andhra.
● He wrote the most authoritative treatises on Jain philosophical thought.
● His texts: Total 84 (in Prakrit)
○ Important texts: Samayasaaram, Pravachanasaaram,
Panchastikayasaaram
○ The above three are called Prabhatatrayam or Saaratrayam.

AN
● He founded a society called Vajragachchha or Saraswati Gachchha for the
propagation of Jainism.
● An inscription at Shravanabelagola states that he himself traveled all over
India arguing with other religious leaders and establishing the supremacy of
Jainism.
● His disciples: KH
○ Balakapincha, Samantabhadra, Kundakoddi and Simhanandi propagated
Jain religion.
● The Jain doctrine of "Swadvadam (శ్వాద్వాదం)" was first propagated by
Konda Kundanacharya in Andhra.
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● Konda Kundanacharya rejected the argument of 'abedha' taught by a Jain

priest named Divakara.
● Acharyas who introduced Tantric education in Jainism are called Yapaniyas
or Gopyas.
IY

Simhanandi:
● He worked for the spread of Jainism by setting up a center of activity at
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Perur or Gangaperur in Kadapa district.

Ugraditya:
● His text: Kalyana Kaaraka (Ayurvedic treatise)
● His Guru : Srinandi Acharya

Jain Poets:
● Pampa kavi:

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ○ Pampa, Ranna and Ponna are known as Kavitrayam / 3 gems of
Kannada poetry. The greatest of them was Pampa.
○ He was in the court of Vemulawada Chalukya King "Arikesari II /
Immari Arikesari II".
○ He translated the Mahabharata into Kannada at the request of
Immari Arikesari.
○ Pampakavi wrote a poem called Vikramarjuna Vijayam in Kannada.
○ Arikesari II gave the title 'Kavitha Gunarnavadu (కవితా గుణార్ణ వుడు)'

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to Pampa.
○ He wrote Adi Purana, the biography of Rishabhanatha (the first
Tirthankara).
● Jina Vallabha:
○ Pampa kavi's brother KH
○ He enshrined a Jain idol named Chakreshwari in Karyala Gutta.
● Somadeva Suri:
○ He was the Pradhanacharya of Subhadama Jain temple built by
Chalukya King Baddega of Vemulawada.
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○ Texts of Somadeva Suri:

■ Neethikavyamrita (నీతికావ్యామృత)
■ Yasodhana Maharaja Charitra (యశోధన మహారాజ చరిత)్ర
IY

■ Yukti Chintamani (యుక్తి చింతామణి)

■ Yasasthilaka (యశస్థిలక)
○ Titles:
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■ Swadvada chaala Simha (శ్వాద్వాద చాల సింహ)

■ Taarkika Chakravarthi (తార్కిక చక్రవర్తి)
■ Kavikula Raja (కవికుల రాజ)
● Padma Kavi:
○ He wrote ‘Jinendra Purana’.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
Jain Sites in Andhra Pradesh:
● Konakondla (Ananthapuram):
○ birthplace of Konda Kundanacharya.
● Ramatheertham (Vijayanagaram District):
○ Became very popular during the Rashtrakuta period.
● Famous Jain Shrines in East Godavari District:
○ Pithapuram, Aryavatam, Bikkavolu, Atreyapuram, Tatipaka

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● Jain Religious Sites in Kadapa District:
○ Danavulapadu
■ Large stones with images of 24 Tirthankaras are seen installed
on four sides. These are called “Chaumukhas”.
○ Siddavatam
○ Peruru
KH
● Jain Religious Sites of Nellore District: Krishnapattanam, Vakadu
● Guntur: Vaddamanu (or) Vardhamana Puram.

Reasons for the decline of Jainism:

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● Shaivism is the main cause

● Strict non-violence (Ahimsa) policy.
● The agriculturists rejected this religion.
IY

● Kakatiyas were the last to expel Jainism.

● It also fell due to the following acts of vandalism:
○ Trilochana Pallava:
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■ This Pallava king destroyed the Jain temple in Tenali and

converted it into Ramalingeswara temple.
○ Brahmayya:
■ This Shaivite of the Kakatiya period destroyed a Jinalaya &
converted it into a Shaivite temple.
○ Vishveshwara Sambhu:

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ■ He was the Shaivite guru of Ganapatideva & he destroyed 36
Jain villages.
○ Shantha Rangappa:
■ This Shaivite of the Vijayanagara period persecuted the Jains
of Srisailam.
○ Basaveswara:
■ Founder of Veerashaiva religion

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■ Due to his influence many Jain Kshetras emerged as Shaiva
Kshetras.
Jain Councils:
● 1st Jain Council:
○ Convened in 300 BC at Pataliputra, presided over by Sthulabhadra
KH
○ Bhadrabahu, a Jain acharya attended from South India (He spread
the religion to the South)
○ Compilation of 12 Angas took place in the 1st Jain council .

○ A terrible famine broke out in south Bihar near the end of

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Chandragupta Maurya's reign. It lasted for about twelve years.

■ Bhadrabahu and his disciples migrated to Shravanabelagola in

Karnataka.
IY

■ Other Jainas remained in Magadha with Sthulabhadra as their

leader, who changed the code of conduct for the monks.

● Around 300 BCE, they convened a council at

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Pataliputra.

● The sacred teachings of Mahavira were divided into

twelve angas at that council.

● This was accepted by Svetambaras. The Angas are

written in Ardha Magadhi Prakrit.

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 ● The monks of the south disagreed with this compilation,
and the first split in Jainism began.

● Jains are classified into two groups or two Jain sects:

Svetambaras and Digambaras.

○ Svetambara monks dressed in white - led by

Sthulabhadra

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○ Digambara monks wore no clothing (the sky is
their garment)at all - Led by Bhadrabahu

● 2nd Jain Council:

○ The second Jain Council met in 512 CE in Vallabhi (Gujarat) during

Kshemasarmana.
KH
the reign of the Maitraka Dynasty. It was presided over by Devardhi

○ The main goal of this Council was to collect sacred scriptures called
'Gandharva' and write them down in a systematic manner.

○ The main purpose of this council was to compose Jain literature.

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○ In the second Jain council, new additions were made in the form of
‘Upangas’ or minor sections.
○ Jain literature like Angas, Angams, Purvams, Upangams etc. are
collected here.
IY

○ However, the 12th Anga drawn at the first Council was lost by this
time.
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○ Twelve Angas: The Angas treat the lives of the monks and are mostly
made up of sermons on various themes of importance to the Jains.

■ Acharanga ■ Sthananga

■ Sutrakritanga ■ Bhagavati

■ Samvayanga

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ■ Jnata ■ Anuttarapapatikadasa
dharmakathanga
■ Prasna Vyakarana
■ Upasakadasa
■ Vipaka Sutra
■ Antakritdasa
■ Dristivada (The 12th
anga is lost)

○ The Acharanga sutta and Bhagavati sutta are the most important of

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the 12 Angas.

■ While the former deals with the code of conduct that a Jaina
monk must follow, the latter comprehensively expounds the
Jaina doctrines.
KH
Buddhism in Andhra

● Mauryan, Satavahana & Ikshvaku period in the history of Andhra is the

Golden Age of Buddhism.
● For a thousand years between 400 BC to 600 AD, Buddhism flourished in
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Andhra.
● During the time of Buddha, Buddhism entered Andhra and flourished till the
time of Ikshvakus.
IY

● According to the writings of Hiuen Tsang, the Buddha first came to

Salihundam (Srikakulam) in Andhra, and from there he reached Dharanikota,
where he conducted the Kalachakra ceremony and preached the ten
dhoranas. Dharanikota thus got its name because of this.
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● A man named Dashamalla heard the 10 Dhoranas taught by the Buddha while
performing the Kalachakra Tantra. Buddhist literature says that he was the
first disciple of Buddha in Andhra.
● According to Buddhist literature, Dharanikota later came to be known as
Dhanyakataka as it was the home of riches .

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ● In 2006, Buddhist leader Dalai Lama visited Andhra Pradesh and conducted
a Kalachakra ceremony in Amaravati.
Spread of Buddhism in Andhra:

● Buddhism spread in Andhra mainly due to the patronage of traders and

professionals, common people.
● Buddhism reigned in Andhra for almost a thousand years.
● Although kings did not openly donate to Buddhism, women were not

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prevented from doing so. Ikshvaku royal women gave very generous
donations to Buddhism.
● Mahadeva Bhikshu was the first Buddhist monk who came to Andhra
○ After the second Buddhist council he came to this region and
converted the local Nagas into Buddhists and spread Buddhism from
KH
Dharanikota to Sriparvatam with their help.
● The branch of Buddhism followed by Mahadeva Bhikshu - Maha Sanghika
Vadam (మహాసాంఘిక వాదం).
● Buddhist scriptures which show that the Nagas adopted Buddhism:
Gandavyuha, Sriranga.
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● According to Buddhist literature, Mahadeva Bhikshu built a stupa at

Dharanikota (Amaravati) with the help of a Naga king named Nagashoka or
Niludu.
● The Yaksha kings of Bhattiprolu named Savara and Kuberaka accepted
IY

Buddhism and built a Buddhist Stupa in Bhattiprolu (Guntur).

○ This is the oldest Buddhist Stupa in Andhra.
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● Mahadeva Bikshu introduced the tradition of worshiping Buddhist symbols

in Andhra. This is called "Chaityakavada".
● Buddha appears for the first time in idol form in Gandhara (1st century AD)
& Mathura style of sculpture.
● There are two main sects of Buddhism:
○ Hinayana sect
○ Mahayana sect

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ● Buddha is worshiped in the form of symbols in the Hinayana sect.
○ Eg : Buddha's throne, footprints
● Buddha is worshiped in the form of a statue/ idol in the Mahayana sect.
● As the main thing in it is to worship the Buddha, the Andhras, who already
had the practice of worshiping the graves, started the practice of
worshiping the Buddha's stupa & Buddhist shrines i.e. Chaityas. It was this
approach that developed into Chaityakavada.
● First it started in Amaravati. It was this Chaityakavada that later led to

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Mahasanghika Vada, the establishment of the Mahayana religion, and later
the development of Vajrayana.
Development of Buddhism in Andhra during the time of Ashoka:

● Asoka's 13th inscription shows that Buddhism was spreading in Andhra

before Ashoka. KH
● The sculpture in Dharanikota is more ancient than the sculptures of Sanchi
and Barhut - as known from the Dharanikota inscription.
● Buddhism spread greatly in Andhra due to Ashoka's efforts.
● From the writings of Hiuen Tsang it is known that Ashoka built the
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following stupas in Andhra.

○ Salihundam (Srikakulam)
○ Amaravati (Guntur)
IY

○ Adurru (East Godavari)

● Ashoka expanded the Stupa built by Mahadeva Bikshu in Amaravati by
placing Buddha’s remains in the centre of Stupa.
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● A text called Kathavatthu states that Andhras played a major role in the
third Buddhist council.
● There are two inscriptions of Ashoka in Andhra: Erragudi, Rajula
Mandagiri (Kurnool)
○ In the Erragudi inscription, Ashoka instructed the teachers to
inculcate Ashoka Dharmasakti in the students.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ● It is because of Ashoka's efforts that Buddhism remained stable in Andhra
for 1000 years.
● As Andhra became the epicentre of Buddhism, good relations were
established with Sri Lanka.
● The Sinhala King built a Sinhala Vihara in Nagarjunakonda for Sinhala
Buddhist Bhikkhus.
● Sinhala belongs to the Hinayana sect. After the birth of Mahayana religion
in Andhra, Hinayana religion declined. So Buddhist monks from Sinhala came

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to Nagarjunakonda to propagate Hinayana religion and spread Hinayana
religion in the southern country.
● Along with the Sinhala Vihara, Nagarjunakonda also had Bahusrutiya
Aparashaila Viharas. Mahayana sect viharas are more in number.

KH
● Because of Sri Lanka - Andhra ties, many aspects of Andhra Buddhism are
recorded in the Sinhala Buddhist texts Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa.
○ There is no evidence in Andhra to know about the Buddhism of
Andhra. These Sinhala scriptures are the basis.
● Taranath (Tibetan Historian) - mentions Acharya Nagarjuna & Andhra desa
AZ

in his writings.

Buddhism during the Satavahanas:

● While the kings followed Vedic religion, the queens followed Buddhism.
IY

● Gautami Balasri donated a vihara to the Buddhists for her son's recovery
from illness.
● Chaityas were built in Nasik, Karle, Kanheri etc. in Maharashtra during
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the Satavahanas period. These are rock cut caves.

● Guntupalli is the only Buddhist rock cut cave in Andhra.
● Acharya Nagarjuna was a famous Buddhacharya during the age of
Satavahanas.
○ He was a contemporary of Yajnasri Satakarni.
○ He built the rampart / Prakaram of Amaravati Stupa.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ○ Mahayana religion was formed due to the efforts of Nagarjuna.

Buddhism during the Ikshvaku period:

● Their period was the golden age of Mahayana Buddhism (the period of
Veerapurushadatta).
● During this period the queens mostly supported Buddhism.
● Nagarjunakonda was the capital during the Ikshvaku period.
● The Parvata Vihara built by Yajnasri Satakarni was repaired by

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Veerapurushadatta’s soldiers Ananda and Bhadanta.
● During the period of the Ikshvakus, Sri Lanka had cultural ties with Andhra.
● Sinhala Buddhists used to visit Nagarjunakonda.
● For their convenience, the Sinhala king built the Sinhala Vihara at
Nagarjunakonda. KH
● Buddhist monks were trained in this Sinhala Vihara and propagated Buddhism
throughout the country.

Buddhism during the time of Vishnukundins:

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● Mahadevi, the wife of Govinda Varma I, built a vihara in

Indrapalanagaram ( Tummalagudem).
● Govinda Varma donated the village "Penkapura" to this vihara.

Famous Buddhist Acharyas:

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● Mahadeva Bhikshu:
○ He was the first Buddhacharya in Andhra.
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○ He spread Buddhism from Amaravati.

○ He participated in the 2nd Buddhist Council at Vaishali.
○ In Vaishali, Buddhism split into two for the first time.
■ Mahasanghikas
■ Sthaviravadins / Theravadins
○ Mahadeva Bhikshu followed the Mahasanghika order.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ○ He started the tradition of 'Chaityakavada', which worshiped
symbols related to the life events of the Buddha.
● Buddhaghosa:
○ He propagated Sthaviravada in Andhra.
○ His birthplace - Kota Nemalipuri/Rajupalem (Guntur district)
○ He brought Hinayana Buddhist texts from Sri Lanka to
Nagarjunakonda.

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○ He wrote 'Visuddhimagga', the standard text of the Hinayanas.
○ He wrote 'Chullavagga'. In this book he explained for the first time
how viharas should be built.
○ Buddhaghosa revived the extinct Hinayana sect.
○ His doctrine: Sthaviravada.
● Dignaga:
KH
○ Father of Indian logic / Tarka sastra
○ His books:
■ Prajnaparamita Sangraham - ప్రజ్ఞా పారమిత సంగ్రహం
AZ

■ Pramana Samuchhayam (Standard Text of Logic) - ప్రమాణ

సముచ్చయం
○ His Siddhanta: Yogachara and Vignyanavada.
● Buddhapalita:
IY

○ His text: Madhyamika Vritti (This is a commentary on Nagarjuna's

Madhyamika Shastra).
○ His Siddhanta: Prasangika Sampradayam.
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● Bhava Viveka:
○ His Siddhanta: Swatantra Siddhantaka, Tarkika Vadam
○ His works: Tarkajwala, Kurataratna, Prajna Pradeepa (Commentary on
Nagarjuna's Madhyamika Shastra).
● Vasubandhu:
○ Texts:

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ■ Wrote a commentary on Aryadeva's Sata Sastra.
■ Abhidammakosha
● Nagarjunacharya:
○ He was a philosopher of Mahayana Buddhism.
○ Nagarjuna formulated the Madhyamika doctrine to reform Mahayana
Buddhism.
○ He was a contemporary of Yajnasri Satakarni.

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○ He attended the 4th Buddhist Council.
○ Buddhism split into Mahayana and Hinayana in the 4th Buddhist
Council due to Nagarjuna's Madhyamika vadam and Sunya vadam.
○ Later Mahayana split into many branches:

KH
■ Yogachara: Brought by Aryasringa and Vasubandhu.
■ Vignayanavada: Brought by Maitreyanatha.
○ Yagnasri Satakarni built the 'Mahavihara or Paravata Vihara' with
1500 rooms on Sriparvatam for Nagarjuna.
○ Buddhapalita wrote a commentary on Nagarjuni's Madhyamika Sastra
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titled Madhyamika Vritti.

● Aryadeva:
○ Disciple of Nagarjuna
○ Succeeded Nagarjuna (according to Katha Sarita Sagaram)
IY

○ His Works:
■ Chathushastakam
■ Sata Sastram
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■ Aksharaska
■ Sutralankara
■ Chittasuddhi Prakarana
○ Commentary on Shata Shastra was written by Vasubandhu
○ His doctrine: Madhyamika Vadam

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ○ He was also murdered by his disciples.
● Asanga:
○ His works:
■ Yogachara Bhumi
■ Abhisamaya Samuchchaya
■ Tattva Vinachaya
○ Siddhanta:

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■ Vignanavada
■ Yogacharya
● Dharmakirti:
○ The last Buddhist monk in Andhra
○ His Works: KH
■ Pramana Samuchhyam
■ Nyaya Bindu
○ His Doctrine/Siddhanta: Tarkavadam / Logic
○ His Guru: Iswarasena
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○ He is known as "Kant of India" because his views are similar to the

famous German philosopher Kant.
Buddhist Doctrines in Andhra:
IY

● Mahayana (Madhyamika doctrine):

○ Proponent - Nagarjuna
○ Location - Sri Parvatam
R

○ Madhyamika Vadam and Yogachara Vadam were formed from

Mahayana Vadam.
■ Vasubandha and Aryasringa were the founders of Yogachara.
■ Maitreya Nath is the founder of Vignyanavada Buddhism.
● Vajrayana:
○ Vajrayana means tantric method of worship.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ○ Founder: Acharya Siddha Nagarjuna (according to Gummadi Durru
inscription)
○ In Vajrayana Buddha is considered as the God of Magic.
○ This Sect’s religious center is Amaravati
■ Amaravati is called Vajraparvatam (according to Sinhala texts).
○ In the cave near Dharanikota there is a Vajrapani temple -as known
from Hiuen Tsang's writings.

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○ The Dhoranas preached by the Buddha in Dharanikota are the source
of Vajrayana
○ Vajrayana mentions that a Buddhist monk named Dashamalla heard the
Buddha's teachings on Kalachakra Tantra.
○ It is known from Tibetan literature that Padmasambhava who
KH
introduced Vajrayana in Tibet was from Andhra.
○ Major Chaityaka centres in Andhra – 5:
■ Purvashaili: Amaravati/ Dharanikota
■ Aparashaili: Sriparvatam / Nagarjunakonda
■ Uttarshaili: Jaggaiyapet
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■ Rajagirika: Guntupalli
■ Siddhardika: Gudivada

Famous Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh:

IY

● Amaravati (Guntur district):

○ Discoverer of this Buddhist Stupa - Colonel Mackenzie (1797)
R

○ All these Stupa ruins were moved to the London Museum and some
were preserved in the Madras Museum.
○ Gautama Buddha himself performed Kalachakra tantra at
Dhanyakataka (Amaravati).
○ The Buddhist text Manjushri Moolakalpam mentions that Buddha's
relics were enshrined in the Amaravati Mahastupa.
● Nagarjunakonda:

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
 ○ Longhurst, a foreigner excavated Nagarjunakonda in 1927.
○ This is called Sriparvatam or Vijayapuri.
○ In the Ayaka Pillar inscription found during the excavations at
Nagarjunakonda, it says 'Sammasambhudasa Datuvara Parigahitasa -
సమ్మసంభుదస దతువర పరిగహితస'.
■ It means that Buddha's relics are deposited.
● Bhattiprolu (Guntur District):

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○ In 1892, Alexander Ray discovered a stupa here.
○ It is the oldest of all the stupas in Andhra.
○ A Sinhala text, Dipavamsa says that Buddha's relics are enshrined in
Bhattiprolu Stupa.
○ The original name of Bhattiprolu was Pratipalapuram.
KH
● Ghantasala (Krishna District):
○ A stupa was also built at Ghantasala during the reign of Satavahanas.
○ It was built in the name of 'Kanthaka', the horse of Buddha.
○ Ghantasala was not only a Buddhist center but also a shipping center
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of that time.
■ From here the Buddhists went to South Asian countries and
propagated their religion.
○ Bodhisiri built a sandstone mandapam and commissioned an inscription
IY

here.
● Jaggayyapeta (Krishna District):
○ Mandhata sculpture showing the appearance of the emperor for the
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very first time was revealed here.

● Thotlakonda (Visakha District):
○ Hinayana Buddhist Temple
○ Chaityas, Stupas and Viharas belonging to the Hinayana sect have been
discovered.
○ The term ‘Tambaya Danamu’ was found here.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
● Bavikonda, Shankaram, Anakapalli - Buddannakondalu (Visakha District):
○ Relics of Buddha were found. Relics (bones, teeth, ash, nails, hair) are
deposited in stupas, pagodas and viharas. Along with these Relics, gold
flowers, beads and coins were found.
● Nelakondapalli (Khammam, Telangana):
○ The 2nd largest Buddhist stupa in South India (largest-Amaravati
Stupa)
● Ramatheertham (Vizianagaram):

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○ Some Buddhist ruins have been found here.
○ A Buddhist temple, a chaityalaya and a stupa were found on the
Gurubhakta hill here.
● Adurru (East Godavari):
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○ Among Ashoka's 84 thousand stupas there are some divine stupas.
○ Adurru is the only divine stupa in Andhra.
● Gummadidurru (Krishna):
○ An inscription dated to the time of Ehuvala Shantamula was
discovered.
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● Goli, Kesanapalli, Rentala:

○ Famous Buddhist sites in Guntur district
● Chandavaram (Prakasam District):
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○ It is remarkable that the Buddhist Stupa with two floors is built on a

hill.
● Nandalur (Kadapa District):
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○ Buddhist ruins were discovered on the banks of Bahuda river.

● Ramagundam (Vizianagaram District):
○ It is an ancient Buddhist site. Stupas are found here.
● Salihundam (Srikakulam):
○ There is a Dhatugarbha Stupa of Buddha here.
○ Hinayana, Vajrayana and Kalachakrayana are famous here.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507
Buddha Purnima:
● Buddha Purnima, celebrated on Vaishakh Purnima, is a very sacred festival
for Buddhists.
● Buddha's birth, enlightenment and Nirvana also took place on Vaisaka
Purnima.
Decline of Buddhism:
● The main reasons for the decline of Buddhism are Brahminism, economic
developments, Vajrayana Tantric traditions in Buddhism.

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● Women's entry into Buddhism, Monastic lifestyle, and later lack of royal
patronage are few other reasons.
● Trilochana Pallavaraju: Helped the development of Vedic religion by
bringing Brahmins to Andhra.
KH
● During the reign of Vishnukundin king Madhava Varma II, Amaravati
Buddhist temple came into the hands of Hindus and became Amararamam.
● By the 4th Buddhist council, Buddhism was divided into 18 sects and later on
into 32 sects.
● On the occasion of Hiuen Tsang's visit to Andhra (630 AD ) most of the
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viharas in Dhanyakataka were built and hundreds of temples were emerging.

In these circumstances Vajrayana flourished.
○ At this stage the Brahmins started an ideological attack on Jains and
Buddhists.
IY

● Buddhism fell after Kumarilabhattu and Shankaracharya attacked the

Buddhists.
● During the Middle Ages, Dharmashastras especially 'Smrityardhasaram'
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made Buddhists untouchables. The Yajnavalka Smriti stated that seeing

Buddhas in dreams is also impure.
● Buddhism was attacked in many ways. Finally, it can be said that Buddhism
completely died out due to the Virashaiva movement of Panditaradhya
Mallikarjuna.

t.me/Riyazkhan_2507