Adurru Buddhist Stupa is situated in the Adurru village of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh. Adurru village is a Buddhist archaeological site located in the Mamidikuduru mandal, on the western bank of Vainateya, which is a tributary of the Godavari River. During 1953, ASI did an excavation in Adurru village and it discovered numerous historical remains, including stupas, chaityas (Buddhist shrines or prayer halls), and viharas (Buddhist monasteries). Among these remains, the most remarkable one is the Mahastupa, which is also known as Adurru Buddhist Stupa.
Structure of Adurru Buddhist Stupa
Adurru Buddhist Stupa is built in the shape of a giant wheel with a raised platform having a diameter of 17 feet. The stupa is surrounded by vedika (partitioning) structures and ayaka (altars or offering platforms) that mark the cardinal directions. The site includes some smaller stupas as well, which are constructed in the same wheel-shaped design.
Construction of Adurru Buddhist Stupa
Historians believe that the Adurru Buddhist Stupa was constructed during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka, whose empire covered much of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka played a prime role in spreading Buddhism throughout South and Central Asia, and he is also credited with the constructions of monasteries, stupas, and other Buddhist monuments across the region. One of the foundation stones at the site is believed to have been laid by the renowned Buddhist nun Sanghamitra, the daughter of Ashoka, who was en route to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of the Buddha.
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