Phanigiri, a 2-year-old Buddhist site in Telangana, India, is fast becoming an important Buddhist site in South Asia. Once a small hill covered in wild vegetation, Phanigiri is today recognized for its historical and cultural importance.
The site includes a Mahastupa, viharas, apsidal chaitya-grihasfrom meeting rooms to stone pillars, inscriptions and much more. These elements could prove essential in reconstructing the cultural history of the region. Dating from the first century BC to the fourth century CE, experts believe Phanigiri has the potential to gain UNESCO World Heritage status if properly conserved.
“In our childhood we used to play here. There was no protective wall or restrictions,” said Uppala Somasekhar, a 41-year-old farmer from Phanigiri village in Suryapet district, who remembers finding small pieces of green limestone, remnants of an ancient landscape.The Indian Express)
Somasekhar mentioned that treasure hunters hoping to find gold had damaged parts of the site. He stressed that the surrounding wall and the gate were signs of the protection of the site since the beginning of the excavations. He also recalled the theft in 2003 of an important Buddhist panel, which was later recovered by police.
Phanigiri, derived from Sanskrit words Phan (snake hood) and giri (hill), is linked to other important Buddhist sites, such as Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda in the neighboring state of Andhra Pradesh. The hill is about 46 meters high and is about 140 kilometers from the capital of Telangana, Hyderabad.
The initial discovery of Phanigiri took place during explorations carried out by the Department of Archeology from 1941 to 1944. The first major excavations began in 2001, with the eighth and final period of work recently completed. These excavations uncovered numerous artifacts, including 3 lead coins from the Ikshvaku period (AD 750-300) and a Roman gold coin from the time of Emperor Nerva Caesar Augustus (r. 400-96 AD).
Buddhist scholar E Shiva Nagi Reddy explained that Buddhism arrived in Andhra Pradesh during the lifetime of the Buddha, in the fifth century BC. A text by Sutta Nipata Early Buddhist writings mention a master named Bavari who may have originated from Telangana. The spread of Buddhism in the region is also attributed to the conversion of the ruler of Assakajanapata in southern Telangana.
The importance of Phanigiri is highlighted by the vertical panel sculptures carved from green limestone, often called the "Jewel of Phanigiri" because of their quality and storytelling. Four panels loaned to the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the National Museum of South Korea were recently returned.
Phanigiri Veeraiah, a security guard, said the site attracted academics, students and tourists from countries including China, Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The number of visitors is increasing, indicating growing interest in the site, he said.
Head of the Department of Archeology, Bharati Hollikeri, highlighted the site's potential to achieve UNESCO World Heritage status, but noted that the process was lengthy. “The process is very long. We have to send a file for inclusion in the indicative list, and there are already 57 from India. This site definitely has potential,” she said. “We also plan to build a larger and more modern museum near the site to house all the artifacts from Phanigiri. The excavations are more or less finished, and our goal is to conserve the site. We also need to build facilities for visitors. » (The Indian Express)
Heritage activist Sreeramoju Haragopal called for the scientific preservation of the artifacts and the publication of a comprehensive book on the findings from the site. He stressed the importance of conserving the chaithya-girhas et viharas.
The historical significance of Phanigiri, along with ongoing conservation efforts, highlights its potential to become a prominent heritage site and contribute to the understanding of the spread and influence of Buddhism in the region.
See more
A potential UNESCO heritage site, why Phanigiri in Telangana is essential for tracing the region's Buddhist past (The Indian Express)
A spotlight in New York on Buddhist objects from Phanigiri, in Telangana (The Hindu)
A pot containing lead coins from the Ikshvaku period discovered at the Phanigiri Buddhist temple site (ETV Bharat)
Related news articles from BDG
Environmentalists call for restoration of India's Thotlakonda Buddhist complex
Archaeologists in Bangladesh discover ancient Buddhist Pandit Vihar University
1-year-old Buddhist temple structure discovered in Malaysia
Young Buddhist scholars gather in New Delhi for lecture on Buddhist pilgrimage
2-year-old Buddhist elephant statue found in India
The article Conservation work progresses at Phanigiri, a potential UNESCO heritage site linked to Buddhism in India appeared first on Buddhist News Global.
Français
Français
English