The Buddhist Architecture in Andhra

No other region in India is so rich in Buddhist monuments as Andhra Pradesh is. More than hundred Buddhist establishments have so far come to light. The Buddhist Architecture in Andhra is an attempt to bring out the salient architectural features of the Buddhist monuments in the area. For about one thousand years (circa 300 B.C. – A.D. 600) Buddhism exerted profound influence on the socio-cultural life of the Andhras, especially during the Satavahana-Ikshvaku period when the rich artisan and trading communities patronised it and raised magnificent monuments in its honour. That is the reason for concentration of the Buddhist ksetras in the rich coastal plains, particularly around the mouth of the Krsna and along the trade routes across the plateau. In this book, which is the first of its kind, is given a comprehensive account of different buildings of the Buddhist architecture such as stupa, caitya, vihara and shrine. Since the latest archaeological evidence has been taken care of, it is presumed that the book will be useful for the scholar, student and general reader interested in the study of the Buddhist architecture in general and that of Andhra in particular.