| Century Buddhist Monastery |
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Ruins of a 3rd-4th century Buddhist monastery were discovered recently in the town of
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
People exploring their newly built colony at suburb Kothapeta near Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad
city, Andhra Pradesh , India noticed some peculiar markings on a pile of huge boulders near the
banks of the small, highly polluted river Musi could be natural, of course, they initially thought.
Some boys climbed up and scrubbed the rock, when several lines of large 10 cm high letters came
to light. The inscription was a mystery, unlike the usual graffiti and seemed very old.
Finally archeologist Pandit P. P. Sastry deciphered it. It was a notice of approximately the 3rd
century A.D. written in Prakrit language which said the place was the official quarters of a
storekeeper who was in charge of the clothes and incense meant for the monks. ( Prakrit was the
common man's Sanskrit). Details from the hyperlink at bottom. The monastery was affiliated to the
"Pupha giri" school. No one knows where the headquarters
(means " Pushpa giri", meaning flower hill) was...there are several places today with the same
name. Nagarjuna Konda, "the hill of Nagarjuna" where a famous Buddhist philosopher of that name
lived, is less than 150 km away.
Other parts of the Hyderabad monastery are presumably under the concrete jungle of
Chaitanyapuri - Dilsukhnagar. Before the significance was realized, local residents built a small
temple.
This is the first time Buddhist ruins have been discovered in this area. Apparently Hyderabad was
a Buddhist stronghold, two thousand years ago. Why was the site favored for a monastery?
Maybe because the Musi river is easily fordable at this spot. Right now there is a pile of boulders
which command a good view all around: the river flows past gently. In the riverbed there is another
flat slab of rock jutting out carved with a late medieval relief of a mother goddess. During the
festival of Shivaratri the cowherds and local people visit the spot. It is likely the area is actually a
prehistoric cult spot much older than the Buddhist monastery.
Caravans of traders in lines of bullock carts in those days were the equivalent of today's truck
convoys on highways. Most Buddhist and Jain monasteries were located on trade routes and
important intersections.
In those days, there were thick forests all around: several people lived by hunting and fishing.
Agriculture was just picking up, as was trade. Coins of the time are plentiful and attest to the brisk
trade. The kings and aristocrats are said to have their Vedic fire-sacrifices while Buddhism and
Jainism attracted the common man-- farmers and artisans. The tribal and nomadic people had their
own deities and rites which were being gradually absorbed into the developing
"Puranic" Hinduism, which resembled today's popular Hinduism.
The recent shrine built now in the niche formed by the rocks is called Kosagundla Narasimha
Swamy temple. The residents irrespective of their religious or cultural affiliation are very proud of
the monastery ruins and regret they didn't find it earlier, before the houses were built.
There may be more traces or inscriptions in the area which have yet to be recognized.
Archeologists feel there could be a link to the Vishnukundin times, when Keesara hillock some fifty
km away ( it can be seen on a good day) was a school or university. Ghatkesar, near Keesara
also was a school (Ghatika) of ancient times. The whole area is poorly explored but traces of
antiquity crop up unexpectedly. Ten years ago no one knew of this Monastery in Hyderabad area.
Even now it hasn't really made it into the guide books. The Archeological Survey Of India is
restoring the site now.
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