Metadata

Support
Pilaster with Buddha image; h. 132 ×  w. 38 ×  d. 22 cm. The upper part of the pilaster features a seated Buddha along with a five hooded nāga. Underneath are a standing Buddha on a lotus with a dharma cakra at the top of his head. A couchant deer and a kneeling devotee are at his feet.
Text
Sanskrit language, Southern Brāhmī script. h. 9 ×  w. 25 cm.
Date
Attributable to the 6th/7th century CE on palaeographic grounds.
Origin
Gummadidurru.
Provenance
Discovered between 1924 and 1928, on the outer facing of the drum of a buddhist stūpa. Identified at Amaravati Site Museum (acc. no. 6) in January 2017.
Visual Documentation
Photo(s):
  • photos JM 2017
  • photos AL 2017
  • Subba Rao 1928, pl. II
  • Ramachandran 1946-47 (III); 1953 (pl. XXXIV, 2)
    • Photo(s) of estampage(s):
  • Gupta 2008, pl. 45
    • RTI: RTI JM 2017
    Editors
    Arlo Griffiths and Vincent Tournier, with contributions by Stefan Baums and Ingo Strauch.
    Publication history
    First described and edited by Subba Rao 1928: 62-4 (13) followed by Ramachandran 1946-47: (III) and Ramachandran 1953: 29 . Re-edited here from published documentation and after autopsy of the stone.

    Edition

    (1) (dextrorotatory-spiral) °ācāryyamaudgalyāyaṇasya priyaśiṣyāsyācā[r]yya(dha) (2)rmmadevasya śiṣyeṇa śrāmaṇakarāhuleṇa bhagavataḥ (3) pratimā pratiṣṭhāpitā sarvvasatvānām anuttarajñā(4)nāvāptaye yad atra puṇyaṁ tad bhavatu satvāna[ṁ]

    (1) (dextrorotatory-spiral) °ācāryyamaudgalyāyaṇasya priyaśiṣyāsyācā[r]yya(dha) -
    (2)rmmadevasya śiṣyeṇa śrāmaṇakarāhuleṇa bhagavataḥ
    (3) pratimā pratiṣṭhāpitā sarvvasatvānām anuttarajñā-
    (4)nāvāptaye yad atra puṇyaṁ tad bhavatu satvāna[ṁ] 
    <ab xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0">
					          <lb n="1"/>
					          <g type="dextrorotatory-spiral"/>
					          <w xml:id="tok5229">°ācāryyamaudgalyāyaṇasya</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5230">priyaśiṣyāsyācā<unclear>r</unclear>yya<supplied reason="lost">dha</supplied>
                  <lb n="2" break="no"/>rmmadevasya</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5232">śiṣyeṇa</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5233">śrāmaṇakarāhuleṇa</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5234">bhagavataḥ</w>
					          <lb n="3"/>
					          <w xml:id="tok5235">pratimā</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5236">pratiṣṭhāpitā</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5237">sarvvasatvānām</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5238">anuttarajñā<lb n="4" break="no"/>nāvāptaye</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5240">yad</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5241">atra</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5242">puṇyaṁ</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5243">tad</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5244">bhavatu</w>
					          <w xml:id="tok5245">satvāna<unclear>ṁ</unclear>
               </w>
				        </ab>

    Apparatus

    • (1) (dextrorotatory-spiral) This liminal auspicious sign is transcribes as svasti in eiad-bibl:Subba_Rao1928 , and omitted by eiad-bibl:Ramachandranb .
    • (1) °ācāryyamaudgalyāyaṇasya °ācāryamougalyāyaṇasya RSR .
    • (1) priyaśiṣyāsyācā[r]yya priyaśiṣyāsyācārya RSR .
    • (2) śrāmaṇakarāhuleṇa śrāmaṇakarāhulena TR .
    • (2) bhagavataḥ bhagavato TR .
    • (3-4) anuttarajñānāvāptaye anuttarajīvāvāptaye RSR .
    • (4) yad atra yadhatra RSR .
    • (4) puṇyaṁ puṇyam RSR puṇyam TR .
    • (4) tad bhavatu sarvvam caitya RSR .
    • (4) satvāna[ṁ] satvānāṁ TR saṅghasya RSR .

    Translation

    (This) image of the Bhagavant was established by the śrāmaṇaka Rāhula, pupil of master Dharmadeva, beloved pupil of master Maudgalyāyana, for the attainment of the supreme knowledge by all beings. What merit is here, may that be for (all) beings.

    Secondary bibliography