DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0117
95
CHAPTER IV.
UNDA VILLI CAVES ON THE KRISHNA RIVER NEAR
BEJWARA.
The caves of this group are not in themselves of any great
interest, but the locality in which they are situated was one of great
importance in early Buddhist times. It was in fact, so far as
we at present know, the only place in Southern India where the
Buddhists had any important establishments, or, at all events, no
Buddhist remains have been found south of Kalinga, except those
in this neighbourhood. This was probably owing to the fact, that
it was from some port in the vicinity of the mouth of the Krishna
and Godaveri that Java and Cambodia were colonised by Buddhists,
and we know from the classical authorities that it was hence that
communication was kept up between India and the Golden Cher-
sonese at Thatun and Martaban. If no other evidence were available
the existence of the Amravati Tope within a few miles of Bejwara
is quiet sufficient to prove how numerous and wealthy the Budd-
hist community must have been in the fourth and fifth century.
While the account given of it by Hiuen Thsang in the seventh
shows how much of its previous importance, in Buddhist eyes, it
retained even then.
Under these circumstances we might well expect that besides the
Amravati Tope, other remains might still be found there, and they
probably will be when looked for. This, however, has not hitherto
been the case. The knowledge we do possess may be said to have
been acquired almost accidentally, no thorough or scientific survey
of the country having yet been attempted.
Bejwara was the capital of the country of Dhanakacheka when
Hiuen Thsang visited the place in 637 a.d., and he describes two
great Buddhist establishments as existing in its immediate neigh-
bourhood. One, the Purvasila Sangarama, as situated on a hill to
the east of the city, where its remains can still be traced. To the
westward of the city he describes the Avarasila monastery, in his
eyes a far more important establishment, and by which there seems
httle doubt he intended to designate the Amravati Tope, situated
CHAPTER IV.
UNDA VILLI CAVES ON THE KRISHNA RIVER NEAR
BEJWARA.
The caves of this group are not in themselves of any great
interest, but the locality in which they are situated was one of great
importance in early Buddhist times. It was in fact, so far as
we at present know, the only place in Southern India where the
Buddhists had any important establishments, or, at all events, no
Buddhist remains have been found south of Kalinga, except those
in this neighbourhood. This was probably owing to the fact, that
it was from some port in the vicinity of the mouth of the Krishna
and Godaveri that Java and Cambodia were colonised by Buddhists,
and we know from the classical authorities that it was hence that
communication was kept up between India and the Golden Cher-
sonese at Thatun and Martaban. If no other evidence were available
the existence of the Amravati Tope within a few miles of Bejwara
is quiet sufficient to prove how numerous and wealthy the Budd-
hist community must have been in the fourth and fifth century.
While the account given of it by Hiuen Thsang in the seventh
shows how much of its previous importance, in Buddhist eyes, it
retained even then.
Under these circumstances we might well expect that besides the
Amravati Tope, other remains might still be found there, and they
probably will be when looked for. This, however, has not hitherto
been the case. The knowledge we do possess may be said to have
been acquired almost accidentally, no thorough or scientific survey
of the country having yet been attempted.
Bejwara was the capital of the country of Dhanakacheka when
Hiuen Thsang visited the place in 637 a.d., and he describes two
great Buddhist establishments as existing in its immediate neigh-
bourhood. One, the Purvasila Sangarama, as situated on a hill to
the east of the city, where its remains can still be traced. To the
westward of the city he describes the Avarasila monastery, in his
eyes a far more important establishment, and by which there seems
httle doubt he intended to designate the Amravati Tope, situated