Buddhist remains found in Krishna district

During a study conducted as part of the Preserve Heritage for Posterity campaign, The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati CEO and archaeologist E Sivanagi Reddy identified some Buddhist remains on a mound called Ernamma Pallu Dibba at Ghantasala village in Krishna district on Saturday.

After a close examination of the remains found on the backside of the Zilla Parishad High School in the village, the archaeologist opined that they might date back to the third century AD of Ikshvaku period. The remains included limestone pillars bearing half lotus medallions and feet of a Buddha statue.

In an inscription belonging to the third century, it was mentioned that Upasika Bodhisiri, wife of a mariner, built a stone pillar pavilion at Ghantasala for the benefit of pilgrims visiting the Maha Stupa. The pillars and the fragment of Buddha statue might be of that pavilion, Sivanagi Reddy said, urging the archaeological authorities to shift the remains to the local museum to protect them for posterity.