Ghantasala (town)

Ghantasala, is a town and Mandal headquarters in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 21 km west of Machilipatnam. It is a rare and reputed center for Buddhist sculptures. Boswell of the East India Company first reported Ghantasala as a historical site in 1870-71. Alexander Rea excavated the stupa at Ghantasala, which had a circumference of 112 feet and a height of 23 feet. The remains of an important Buddhist stupa and sculptural slabs were found in 1919-20 [South Indian Buddhist Antiquities, A. Rea, 1989, Asian Educational Services, ISBN:8120605128] .

Ghantasala was once a flourishing town of Indo-Roman trade as well as an important religious centre. The Buddhist relics and the Hindu structures at the place reveal its past glory. Carved limestone columns belonging to pillared halls associated with Buddhist monastic establishments (2-3rd centuries BCE ) have been discovered. The ruined Maha Chaitya or stupa that was excavated here is of a unique design. A cube of solid bricks is set in the centre, inscribed with 12 constellations of the zodiac [ [http://news.buddhism.cn/english/culture/t20060801_36688.htm Historical Discoveries in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh of India ] ] .

The chaityas had a texture and size unique to the Satavahana times and had separate dwelling places for Buddhist monks in the complex. All walls were found to have beautiful plastering with superfine lime mortar. A three-dimensional limestone carved structure, embellished on the dome portion of the stupa had two garland bearers, a dhamma chakra and a miniature stupa on a throne in the middle. Objects such as a four-by-three-feet 'Purna Kalasa' containing lotus flowers, indicating the birth of Gautama Buddha were also discovered. The stupa had concentric inner wheels radiating towards a central chamber.

Some of the carved slabs have found their way to museums in Paris and London.

Now Ghantasala has its own museum which contains some of the important Buddhist stupa and sculptural slabs found in recent years [Ghantasala Stupa:http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/29/stories/2008042956370800.htm] . The Andhra Pradesh Government recognizes this village as one of the tourist centres.

There is a temple for Lord shiva named as JALADHEESWARA SWAMY temple which was built by devathas and is called as "chinna kasi". In this temple lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi are placed on the same peetham.

Villages in Ghantasala Mandal

The following is the list of villages in this Mandal. [cite web
url=http://www.krishna.gov.in/eldistrict2/htm/40.htm
title=Villages in Ghantasala Mandal
publisher=
accessdate=2007-02-22 ]

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References