Amaravathi, the capital for
Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation, is to be a fabulous riverfront city.
Amaravathi is the temple town, situated on River
Krishna bank in Andhra Pradesh. Amaravati is located 32 km from Guntur and 39 km from Vijayawada in
Andhra Pradesh on the right bank of river Krishna.
Amaravathi
is one of the few places where the river flows north instead of south or
east. This has been considered auspicious.The Satavahanas chose
Dharanikota to build their capital, at two km from Amaravathi
town, over two thousand years ago.
History of Amaravathi, the Imperial City
The recorded history
of Amaravati and Dharanikota is from 2nd century BCE. It was the telugu capital
of Andhra Satavahanas who ruled from 2nd century BCE – 3rd century CE. The
Satavahana era lied in between the Maurya and Gupta eras. They ushered in Post mauryan period and had cultural impact on people of
Andhra, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh significantly.
Satavahanas preserved Hinduism and also fostered Buddhism presenting a
wonderful example of openness and enlightened thinking.
Contribution of Satavahanas:
The Amaravati town and the neighbouring Dharanikota were the imperial capital for the Satavahanas who succeeded the Mauryas. Satavahanas also contributed to Buddhist art and architecture after Ashoka the Great, the Satavahanas were the ones who built imposing stupas in the country, particularly in the Krishna river valley.
After decline of Satavahanas, Andhra Ikshvakus came to rule the Krishna river valley region followed by Pallava kings. Subsequently, Eastern Chalukyas and Telugu Cholas controlled the region. In medieval times, the Kota Kings were in control of Amaravati who were later subdued by Kakatiyas in 11th century CE. Later Amaravati became part of the unified Telugu empire under the Vijayanagara empire.
How Amaravathi is a melting pot of religions
- People of region
worship Lord Amaralingeswara Swamy with much devotion and reverence
- The region has
rich Buddhist history with Amaravati stupa
- Later dynasties
which came after satavahanas patronised Jainism as well.
- Hence, the city is
also known as Sridhanyakataka or ‘City of Tolerance’.
The Satavahanas were patrons of Hinduism, the ancient temple of
Amaralingeshwara (Shiva) gave the name of Amararamam to the city. Hence, the city of Amaravathi is named after Amareswara Swamy
Temple, which is one of the Pancharamas. Amaravati
is also known as ‘Punyakshetra’.
The legend of Amaravati
When Subramanya
(Shiva) killed the
demon Tarakasura, the Shivalingam
in his throat broke and fell in five different spots, which became the
‘Pancharama-kshetras’. The foremost of these is Amareswara at Amaravati where
‘Indra’ and the ‘Devas’ are believed to have worshipped Shiva.
Buddhist
history of Amaravathi
Amaravati was a seat of Buddhism prior to the rise of
Satavahanas, and a stupa and monastery were built there during the reign of
Emperor Ashoka (269-232 BC) under Mauryan empire.
The great stupa or Mahachaitya
at Amaravati was one
of the biggest in Andhra Pradesh with a probable diameter of 50 meters and a
height of 27 meters.
Buddhist legends of
Amaravathi / Dharanikota:
According to ‘Vajrayana’ buddhism traditional sources, the
Buddha preached at Dharanikota (Dhanyakatakam) and also conducted the
‘Kalachakra’ ceremony. This legend takes the antiquity of Amaravati back to 500
BCE.
Taranath, the Buddhist monk of tibetan buddhism writes in his
History of Buddhism: “On the full moon of the month Chaitra in the year
following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of Dhanyakataka, Buddha
emanated the mandala of “The Glorious Lunar Mansions” (Kalachakra). This
description shows that Dhanyakatakam (Amaravati) was a very significant place
marking the origin of many Buddhist Tantric teachings especially,
Kalchakra.
Amaravati was a place of ancient worship for
followers of different faiths.
Nayi-Brahmins in AMARAVATHI are playing crucial role in Andhra Pradesh.
The Telugu ruling family of Dharanikota i.e. Kota clan has not been given priority by the present government. (Descendants of several dynasties that ruled Dharanikota are untraceable, except the genealogy of the Nizams has been traced, the Vijayanagara dynasty also now has descendants of the Aravidu family, Araveeti familily memebers can be seen in Anegondi and few other parts of Andhra and Karnataka states.
ReplyDeleteThe Kota clan Dhananjaya gotra kings ruled the south bank of the Krishna River as an independent power for more than 150 years from the beginning of the 12th century to the last quarter of the 13th century.
Ganna Bhupala Dantuluri of Kota clan around 1400 A.D. ruled the Dharanikota region. Renowned Telugu poet Srinatha wrote 'Dhananjaya Vijayam' and dedicated it to Dantuluri Gannabhupala. Mahamuni Kavya Kanta Ganapati Sastri mentioned in his book that the king Dantuluri Gannabhupala gave his daughter Surambika to Anavema Reddy who ruled Addanki. This is said to be the first marriage between Kshatriya and Reddy communities. Kota chiefs were married to Kakatiya king familiry members. There were relationships:
"Ganapati Deva's sister Melambika married the second son of Buddharaju who ruled the Natavadi region. Ganapati Deva's first daughter Rudrama Devi married Chalukya Virabhadra- Nidadavolu Eastern Chalukya prince, and his second daughter Ganapamba married Kota Betaraja. Kakatiya kings had matrimonial relations with The Chagis (Sagis), the Eastern Chalukyas and Kota Kshatriya familires.”
Kota Hariseemakrishna was the most popular king among Kota kings. Other kings were Bhima Raju, Ketha Raju, Rudraraju, Dantuluri Gannabhupaludu. Telugu poet Mangalagiri Ananda Kavi dedicated his lyrical work "Vijayananda Vilasamu" to Datla Venkatrama Nrupudu (Datla Venkatrama Raju) of the Kota clan. Dantuluri (Tuni zamindars of this surname), Nallaparaju zamindars, Datla, Dandu, Rudraraju, Bhupathiraju, Penmetsa and other surnames of Dhananjaya gotra Rajus are descendants of this dynasty.
"The Dhananjaya gotra appears as the second of the four important sects of Kshatriyas in the Telugu land" - 'History of Andhra Desa' 1000AD-1500AD by Yashoda Devi, page 174, published by Gnana Publishing House.
Andhra government should therefore know the importance of Kota clan in the history of Amaravati.