A Buddhist site datable to the 1st century BC has been discovered at Madugula village in Gurazala mandal of Palnadu region in the district.
The explorations were conducted by the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA) as part of ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’, a scheme launched by CCVA to identify archaeological sites, historical monuments, sculptures and inscriptions and sensitise the local communities on safe guarding the priceless heritage of their villages.
Emani Sivanagi Reddy, a Buddhist archaeologist and CEO, CCVA, said the excavations had unearthed four pillars carved with half lotus medallion (a typical features of Buddhist architecture) at the bottom and on the top portions with a grove on its top side to hold a beam. Thus these pillars were supporting a pavilion (Silamandapam), a congregation hall of a Buddhist arama.
Basing on the style of the art of the half lotus medallions and small Brahmi label inscription on one of the Pillars, Mr. Sivanagi Reddy dates the Buddhist site to 1st century BC if not earlier.
Dr. Reddy who had surveyed in and around Madugula Village in search of remains of a Stupa, Chaitya and Vihara said the ancient Buddhist Site was super imposed by the Siva and Janardhana temples.
In course of explorations, he could also notice an 8th century AD mutilated statue of a Jain Thirthankar Mahavira, carved in red sand stone in the dump yard of the village.
The explorations revealed that the village was a Buddhist site during the Satavahana times and served as a Jain Basadi during the Eastern Chalukyan times.