Amarāvati

Amaravati River Krishna at 35 KM north-west of Guntur in the Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is famous for its Amareswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is one of the famous Pancharamas. Site of magnificent specimen of Buddhist art, near Madras. Sculplures formed decorations of a Stupa (q.v.) 138 feet in diameter, and an inner and outer rail surrounding it. Most of the sculptures were destroyed before the Stupa was discovered, the specimens rescued being now in British Museum and Madras Museum. The work dates from 200 B.C.–300 A.D. and represents the intermediate stage between ancient Buddhist art and that of the Gandhara period (q.v.), both symbol and figure being used to depict the Buddha.