Buddhist Stupa

• Buddhist Stupa-

The great stupa at Amaravati accidentally came under limelight in 1796, when a certain raja decided to build a new capital at a place called Amareswaram. While digging at this place, the workers hit upon some bricks and some white stone pieces which had carvings on them. These were remains of the ancient stupa. The site of Amaravati lies in the valley of the Krishna River in the modern state of Andhra Pradesh. Like other important stupa sites, Amaravati also grew and changed. Over time, stone pillars and railings were added. Eventually, the surface of the stupa was covered with beautifully carved white limestone slabs, resembling marble. The railing around the stupa and the four gateways were also decorated with carved limestone slabs. While some of the carvings and sculptures were purely decorative, others had philosophical connotations and tried to tell the story of the Buddha's life. The railings and gateways of the stupa had many inscriptions carved on them.