Amravati Stupa

The third main center of early Buddhist art in India was Amravati School of Art in South
India. Amravati was capital of Andhra Ruler in South India.

Amravati of late Andhra Empire (25 B.C.-320 A.D.), was ruled by Satavahana Dynasty.

The Buddhist art was created by the artists of South India in both architecture and
sculpture.

The Buddhist monuments at Amravati marked another important landmark of Indian

Buddhist art like the stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut.

The Amravati School of Art flourished in the Guntur district.

The grand stupa of Amravati built on the basin of river Krisna belongs to this style.

This stupa has rows of different figures and not only its railings but also its dome are
covered with marble.

Stupa of Amravati

Amravati (Dhanakatak) situated on the banks of Krishna river, 35 km form Guntur, in Andhra
Pradesh.

Nothing remains now of this stupa, only its relics can be seen.

It consisted of a dome or Anda or egg. Of about 50 m in diameter rising to a height of 30 m.

A terrace or Medhi 5 m high from ground was added forming a separate ambulatory or
Pradakshina Path about 2 m wide.

The upper part of the dome was plastered and ornamented with a garland like pattern while
the lower part of the dome was covered by huge slabs of marble measuring 2-3 m wide
covered ‘Tri-ratna’ and ‘Poorna-kumbha’ ornamentations.

At the top of the dome was a Harmika covered with stone umbrella.

One notable feature of this stupa is the improvement in the architectural appearance by
providing a rectangular platform (Ayaka) to the base of the dome at four cardinal points.

On the rear side of this rectangular platform a stair-case leading to the upper processional
path was provided.

While the front side of the platform was used to provide a base for a group of five ‘Aryaka’
or worshipping pillars each nearly 6 m in height which represented five celestial Buddhas as
well as five important episodes in Buddha’s life.
The entire dome was enclosed by a 4 m high and 60 m diameter stone railing ‘ Vidika’ highly
ornamented with chakras, trees, men, animals and figures of Buddha.

The railing has usual ‘Urdhvapatas’ and ‘suchis’.

Unlike the ‘Torana’ of Sanchi stupa, here the railing is intercepted by four door-ways called
‘simha-dwaras’ just opposite the aryaka pillars at the cardinal points, each with a sculpture
of sedentary lion on the entrance pillar of the door-way.