Amaravati : Parts of Buddhist Mahastupa restored

First consignment of 19 sculptures have been brought from Egmore museum

• Some 200 railing pillars of the stupa were excavated and taken to Britain
• Another 150 railings were taken to Egmore museum
• These were erected under the leadership of Acharya Nagarjuna
• The railings will be put at the site in a way they existed earlier

AMARAVATHI (GUNTUR DT.): The famed Buddhist Mahastupa here has got a new lease of life as a few pieces of sculptures that are part of this treasured structure have been brought back recently from a museum at Egmore in Chennai.

"This has been possible due to the continuous follow-up undertaken by officials," Archaeology Assistant Superintendent D. Kanna Babu told The Hindu on Sunday.


Sustained efforts

Initially, the museum authorities were reluctant to part with the sculptures. However, persistent efforts of Superintending Archaeologist Jitendra Das were rewarded.

Some 200 railing pillars of the 2nd century AD stupa were excavated during the British rule and taken to Britain, while another 150 were taken to the museum. History says that these railings were erected under the leadership of Acharya Nagarjuna.

Over the years, people belonging to the region had plundered the historic sites and caused much damage to the national and cultural heritage. "The efforts to conserve the remaining monuments are being taken up by the Archaeological Survey of India," he observed.

All that remains of the Amravati stupa today

The first consignment of 19 sculptures was received from Chennai recently. The railings would be put at the site of the stupa in the manner they existed before. "This will provide an original look to the `thorana' of the Maha Chaitya," Mr. Babu said.

The railing pillars were originally decorated with full bloom lotus medallions on them. Amaravathi is the only place in the sub-continent to have its railings composed of Mauryan polish. Landscaping was being undertaken at a few sites to get an appealing look. The Department was undertaking conservation activities at Nagarjuna Konda, Amaravathi and Bhattiprolu, he said. The ASI would conduct essay-writing, painting and quiz competitions for girl students from various colleges at Women's Degree College in Guntur on Tuesday. The topic of the competition is: `Buddhism and its relevance to the present-day society'.

Courtesy: The Hindu