THE IMPACT OF BUDDHIST SCULPTURE AND PAINTING ON ANDHRA      Dr.Sanjiva Dev

repuded.

The other centers of Buddhist culture in Andhra such as Guntupalli, Sanakram (Sangharam), Jaggayyapeta, Ghantasala, Bhattiprolu, Gummididurru, Goli, Chejarla etc., have their own importance in their own special aspects such as Viharas, Chaityas and Stupas; they are not so great sculpturally as Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda are. The oldest Buddhist centers in Andhra, it is believed, are Guntupalli and Sankaram whose original name was Sangharam. Guntupalli Vishara is situated in a hilly region at a distance of about thirty miles in the north from Eluru in the West Govdavari district. It is said that there existed a huge university. Guntupalli Vihara had consisted of three thousand caves for the dwelling of twelve thousand Buddhist Bhikkus; this was built in 2000 B.C. Sankaram too, in Visakhapatnam district, is of the same type. The sculpture called “Chakravarti Mandhat” from Jaggayyapeta in Krishna District, which is considered to have belonged to the first century B. C. is an exquisite bas-relief though in the primitive nascent form. The main figure of Chakravarthy, standing in a rhythmic dance-posture, appeared to gest-culate in a mood of ecstasy. In the back-ground rests Dharmachakra on a column, and some human figures and a horse and an elephant stand by him in a worshipping gesture.