EARLY HISTORIC BUDDHIST
SITE AT PHANIGIRI
(1st C.E to 3rd C.E)
Location:
Phanigiri
village lies on the left bank of the rivulet Aleru, a tributary of the river
Musi (17° 25'E 79° 29'N). The Buddhist site is located on hill-top about 150
feet high and is about 35 kms from Suryapet and 110kms from Hyderabad via
Bhongir and Tirumalagiri. It is just 4kms from Tirumalagiri, the Mandal
Headquarters in Nalgonda District. At present, the rivulet Aleru flows 2 kms
away from the habitation in north-south direction.
History:
The Early Historic site of Phanigiri is situated on a
hillock near Phanigiri Village in Nagaram Mandal, Suryapet District, Telangana,
represents a significant Buddhist monastic complex. The earliest occupational
phase is attributed to the Satavahana period (1st century C.E),
while the site attained its peak in artistic and architectural development
during the Ikshvaku period (2nd -3th century C.E). Most
of the structural and cultural features identified thus far correspond to this
Ikshvaku phase.
Etymologically, the village Phanigiri seems to have
derived its name from the shape of hillock located on the northern side of the
village, which looks like a snake hood. In Sanskrit, Phani means snake, Giri
means hillock. The water tanks and rock cut cisterns on the hilltop and also
tanks at the foot of the hillock not only served as the main water source for
the inhabitants but also the rivulet Aleru or Bikkeru, which traversed nearby
the monastic complex during the early centuries of Christian Era. It is one of
the important Buddhist monasteries strategically located on the hill top, on
ancient trade route connecting the west and the east Coast of the Deccan.
Coin Hoard:
On
29thof march a globular pot measuring 16.7cm in diameter and 15cm in
height was unearthed at a depth of 40cm from the ground level in the northern
most monastic cell. The mouth of the pot was covered with shallow pot on
outside and a broken base of a bowl inside. After opening the pot, it came to
know that the pot was filled with lead coins. All the coins were taken out from
the pot and counted, the coins are three thousand seven hundred thirty (3730)
in number and the average weight of each coin is 2.3g. After close observation
by the team, it came to know that all the coins are made of lead and are
similar. The coins have an elephant symbol on obverse and ujjain symbol on
reverse. Based on the study of strata and typology, researchers concluded that
these coins belong to the Ikshvakus.
About
Excavations
The Department of Heritage Telangana (formerly the Dept.
of Archaeology & Museums) had explorations in and around Phanigiri village
brought to light a cluster of Megalithic burials away from the hillock towards
north and north-east overlooking a big tank. At the foot of the hillock on the
eastern side nearby the Kakatiya temple complex, noticed a disturbed habitation
with brick alignments. The site has to be excavated in order to know its
relation to the monastic establishment located on the hilltop. On the hilltop
are Cairn heaps located on north-western of the habitation adjacent to the
tank. These probably are the burials of the residential monks of the monastic
order as noticed at Thotlakonda and Pavurallakonda in Visakhapatnam District
and at Chandavaram in Prakasam District all Buddhist sites. The ancient
habitation on hill top covers an area of 10 acres in extent.
Archaeological investigations at the
site have been conducted in multiple seasons. Extensive structural remains were
first uncovered during the 2018–19 field seasons, providing crucial insights
into the layout and extent of the monastic establishment.
Building upon these discoveries, the Department of
Heritage Telangana (formerly the Dept. of Archaeology & Museums) undertook
another systematic excavation in the 2023–24 field seasons. This subsequent
campaign aimed to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the site's
developmental sequence and its broader historical context.
Scope of the Excavations:
The Excavations of the site at Phanigiri
village were undertaken with the following Objectives:
Ø To
understand the constructional patterns of the monastic complex
Ø To
understand the cultural life of the people who had inhabited this part of the
region
Ø To
understand the nature of the brick wall noticed on the surface
Ø To
understand the Buddhist context of the limestone panel sculpture found on the
surface
Ø To
understand the art style that prevailed in this region
Ø To
develop comprehensive understanding of the Early History of Telangana
Ø To
study the architectural developments of the Buddhist establishments from the
region
Aerial
view of the Excavation Site
Aerial
view of the Excavation Site
View
of the Site before the removal of the baulk
Stucco
Sculptures
Terracotta
Beads
Coins Shell
Bangles
For Complete Information, Please Refer to
the Books
PHANIGIRI
A
BUDDHIST SITE IN ANDHRA PRADESH
An interim report
2001-2007
PHANIGIRI
INTERPRETING AN ANCENT BUDDHISAT SITE IN TELANGANA
TREE
& SERPENT
Early
Buddhist Art in India
