Andhra Sculptures: Archaeological Series No. 36

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The long-standing desire of the Government of Andhra Pradesh to bring out a comprehensive work on all the Buddhist monuments in the State has been fulfilled by presenting to the learned scholars this immensely valuable monograph by Sri O. C. Gangoly one of the great authorities on the subject. The author is very particular in tracing the origin of the various cults connected with the construction of Stupas, the Chaitya worship in the later order, the symbolism of the footprints, the wheel of Dharma, the Nandipada, the Lion and so on. The method of treatment of the iconographic objects is of great help to the lay readers as well as those who visit the Buddhist monuments with great zeal and actually find themselves disappointed because of their inability to appreciate the plastic expression of the great cult. The stupa adoration in general is dealt with a brief description of its origin and development at the famous structures like Bharhut and Sanchi along with the cave cut- tings like Bhaja, Karli and Kanheri. The rise of Mathura school of sculpture in the first century B.C. was the beginning of a new era of Buddhist art in India. The sculptors of the Andhra region, according to the author, developed the said cave and structural sculptures of the early phases of Indian Art into newer, richer and more prolific forms and designs. A detailed study of the monuments at Bhattiprolu, Amaravati, Guntupalli, Sankharam, Jaggayyapeta, Nagarjunakonda, Ghantasala, Gummididurru and Goli has yielded not less than thirteen phases of sculptural developments which the author has presented in a chronological scheme ranging from 200 B.C. to 325 A.D. While dealing with the separate themes, like the images of the Buddha in various postures, the garland motifs, the mithunas, the river goddesses, the animal motifs, etc., the presentation with comparative reference to similar representations at places beyond the Andhra country like Sanchi, Bharhut, Kondanee and Karli is of utmost use for research students. In fact two chapters in the end were devoted for dispelling the theory that the Amaravati school and its developments in Andhra emerged out of foreign influence as suggested by the well-known authorities like Bachhofer, Prof. Vogel, Prof. Jouveau-Dubreuil and others.

On the whole the treatment of the subject is original and contributes a lot to the existing theories. I feel it great pleasure to express my gratefulness to the learned author for contributing this valuable monograph to the series of the departmental publications. My thanks are also due to Dr. N. Ramesan, I.A.S., Secretary, Finance and Sri S. R. Ramamurthy, I.A.S., Secretary, Education, for their timely co-operation in bringing out this publication. I am indebted to the officers and staff of the Text-book Press for kindly taking up the printing of this monograph in right earnest and completing it in record time.

I also thank the publication staff of the Archaeological Department particularly Sri V. Krishnaiah for taking great pains to push through the printing work of this monograph.