New Clues Emerge About Buddhism's Survival Around Amaravati

ONGOLE: A fragmentary Telugu inscription discovered in Andhra Pradesh's Nallamala region is providing important new evidence that Buddhist religious activity connected with ancient Amaravati survived into the late 13th century, far later than is sometimes assumed.

The Archaeological Survey of India's Epigraphy Branch documented the inscription on a stone slab near Ayyambholapalle in Yerragondapalem mandal of Prakasam district during its recent survey of the Nallamala forest region. The slab carries representations identified by ASI researchers as an Amaravati stupa and Muchalinda Naga, alongside the inscription.

The Telugu record is precisely dated to May 16, 1285 CE, placing it during the reign of Kakatiya queen Rudrama Devi. According to ASI's reading, the inscription records the donation of Velmapalli village to Buddhadeva of Sridhanyam, a name associated with ancient Dhanyakataka, the historic settlement around present-day Amaravati.

The grant was made by Bolayani Mallikarjuna Nayaka, described as a commander under Rudrama Devi. The inscription records that Velmapalli was given to support religious observances described with terminology including Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The donation was made for the religious merit of Rudrama Devi and the donor himself.

ASI Director of Epigraphy K. Muniratnam Reddy said the record indicates that the Amaravati stupa continued to hold religious significance in the Krishna River region into the 13th century CE. New Indian Express described the discovery as challenging the view that Buddhism in the region had effectively disappeared after about the seventh century.

Amaravati was one of ancient South India's great Buddhist centres. Its monumental stupa developed over centuries and became renowned for elaborate limestone sculpture depicting Buddhist narratives and symbols.

For Telugu Americans, the discovery highlights the extraordinary chronological depth of the Telugu region's religious history. A Telugu inscription written under a Kakatiya queen refers back to a Buddhist centre whose origins reached deep into antiquity.