[Buddha-l] Bangladesh Muslim lovefest

[Dan Lusthaus]

> Any archaeological excavations beneath and around the Nagarjunikonda 
> complex?
>
> Pre-Buddhist strata identified?

Originally Nagarjunakonda consisted of a portion of the Krishna River 
valley, and the hills and mountain caves running alongside the river. 
Travelers like Xuanzang who stayed at the major cave-temple complex there 
were impressed by its size and an elaborate system of running water within 
it, whose engineering defied easy explanation. Candrakirti, amongst others, 
lived there.

Some years ago, India built a huge dam on the river, effectively leaving the 
region under a couple hundred feet of water. A number of sites had been 
excavated prior to that, but the huge cave-complex had not been located. 
Some temples, steles, and other remains that had been excavated were 
retrieved and moved to the top of a mountain which, once the valley was 
flooded, remained as an island barely higher than water level -- which today 
can be reached by ferry. The pillars that I referred to are on that island. 
Unfortunately, with the valley now entirely flooded, whatever hadn't been 
discovered prior to the dam has become inaccessible and who knows what 
irremediable water damage whatever might survive underwater is presently 
suffering.

There are a few pieces identified as from early periods, but not presently 
in situ, and thus decontextualized. An elaborate reconstruction of temples 
upon the island, as well as a museum, etc. still makes a visit worthwhile 
and fascinating. Thanks to inscriptions, elaborate sculptures and steles, 
etc., the history of the area is relatively well-known. According to things 
which have survived, one of the most opulent periods of patronage of 
Buddhism was during the reign of the Ikshvaku rulers (2nd c). They succeeded 
the Satavahanas, who patronized both Hinduism and Buddhism.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Ikshvaku

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satavahanas

Dan