Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh, India

Nagarjuna, a Buddhist monk-philosopher and founder of the Madhyamika ("Middle Path") school, is estimated to have lived between 150-250 CE in south India. His clarification of the concept of shunyata ("emptiness") is regarded as an intellectual and spiritual achievement of the highest order. Recognized as a patriarch by several later Buddhist schools, his two basic works are Madhyamika Karika and Vigrahavyavartani, both critical analyses of views about the origin of existence, the means of knowledge, and the nature of reality. ♣

Nagarjunakonda, named after Nagarjuna, was once called Vijayapuri ("City of Victory") after Vijaya Satakarni, a Satavahana ruler. About 1700 years ago, it was a great religious center of Brahmanical and Buddhist faiths. Discovered in 1926 by an Indian teacher, S Venkataramayya, much of this ancient township is now submerged under the third largest manmade lake caused by the Nagarjuna Sagar dam built across river Krishna. Archaeological finds between 1926-60 have helped establish a cultural sequence from early stone age to Medieval times. More than 130 sites over 24 sq. kms were excavated and some of the structures were moved and reconstructed on what is now an island on the reservoir and on its eastern bank at Anupu (much like saving Abu Simbel from the Aswan Dam project in Egypt).    [-Adapted from Archaeological Survey of India's brochure on Nagarjunakonda]

Nagarjuna Sagar	Hindu temple	Island vegetation	Museum
Hindu temple			Simhala Vihara ▒
Megalith ▒			The Buddha of Sri Lanka
The Buddha	Chaitya	Simhala monastery (more)	Pillar detail
Bodhi Sri Chaitya ▒			Chamta Sri Chaitya Griha ▒
Shiva temple			Landscape
Maha stupa ▒	Landscape	Asvamedha site ▒	Horse sacrifice point
Bathing ghat ▒	Serpent in stone	Swastika stupa	Remains of a stupa?
Posing tourists	West view from dam	East view from dam	Cop
Ancient University Complex at Anupu ▒
Medicine school	Rooms	Lecture hall	Chaitya
Mas ruinas	Pillar detail (more)	Stupa base	Amphitheater ▒