Buddhist remains found at Pondugula

The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCV&A) identified Buddhist remains dating back to the 3rd century AD at Pondugula village on the right bank of Krishna river near Dachepalli in Guntur district on Saturday as part of its campaign to `Preserve Heritage for Posterity’.

Cultural Centre CEO E Siva Nagi Reddy and M Ravi Krishna, a historian of Guntur, thoroughly explored the surroundings of Jalapeswara temple built by the Chalukyas of Vengi in the 8th century AD. They found the Buddhist pillars bearing half lotus medallions, floral and creeper designs of the Ikshwaku times.

The pillars were used for Adhisthana (the basement) of the temple. Siva Nagi Reddy said there were several ancient Buddhist sites at Manchikallu, Goli, Rentala, Gurajala, Kambhampadu, Pedakodamagandla and Modugula villages in Palnadu region.

According to an inscription engraved on a pillar of the temple, it was built by a sculptor named Kalgarabharanacharya. One of the three Buddhist pillars found at the site was in ruins. Siva Nagi Reddy and Ravi Krishna explained the historical significance of Pondugula temple and urged the villagers to preserve the ancient structure for posterity.