Sannati 1
Sannati 1
Sannati 1
All these finds indicate that the place, probably the Suvarnagiri of Asokan
edicts, was developing into a great Buddhist centre even from the period
of Asoka who probably visited the place and got built the stupa. This was
later enlarged and enriched during the period of the Satavahanas. The
inscriptions and sculptures indicate the prevalence of the Hinayana and
strongly the Mahayana schools of Buddhism in the region. It may also be
noted that Sannati on the bank of the river Bhima, a tributary to the
Krishna formed a part of strong Buddhist belt along the Krishna where
probably the Mahayana form of Buddhism originated and developed. In
particular, in Karnataka this is the only Buddhist site, exceedingly rich and
the most outstanding.
23 November 2008
A. Sundara
(A. Sundara)*