Bojjannakonda

Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda are two rock-cut caves of Buddhist origin on adjacent hillocks situated near the village of Sankaram, Anakapalle of ancient Kalinga in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The sites are believed to have been established between the 4th and 9th centuries AD, when Buddhism was the majority religion of Sankaram (Sangharam). The original name of Bojjannakonda is Buddina Konda.

View of the site

Bojjannakonda is one of the Holy relic sites of Andhra Pradesh

Site

Sankaram is a small village situated about a mile to the east of Anakapalli in the Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh. A short distance to the north of the village are two hills. The one on the east is called Bojjannakonda and the one on the west is called Lingalakonda. Both are surrounded by paddy fields. The hills contain monolithic stupas, rock-cut caves, chaityas and monasteries forming one of the most remarkable Buddhist establishments in Andhra Pradesh during the period. The name of the village Sankaram is evidently a corruption of Sangharam (Boudha-arama, i.e., vihara) as these Buddhist establishments are generally known.

Features

Bojjannakonda

This is the eastern hill. It is covered with monolithic stupas surrounding the rock-cut platforms of the Maha stupa. The dome of the stupa is constructed of brick.

The cave was excavated under the aegis of Alexander Rim in 1906. It features all three phases of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana.

Groups of rock-cut and brick stupas and small chaityas surround this stupa. In two of the brick stupas, stone relic caskets in the form of miniature stupas were found. An image of the Goddess Hariti is found at the foot of the hill.

On this hill there are six rock-cut caves of which some have sculptured panels. One main cave has sixteen pillars, or which five are broken, and it features a monolithic stupa in the centre. A pradakshina-patha surrrounds it. On the ceiling over the stupa is a carving of a chhatra, i.e., umbrella that was originally connected with the top of the stupa, whose shaft was lost. Above this cave is an upper story with figures of Buddha. Some caves have sculptured panels. Most panels consists of a seated Buddha and attendants.

From this area, seals, terracotta inscribed tablets, terracotta beads, terracotta figures, one gold coin (belonging to Samudra Gupta of the Gupta dynasty who ruled Magadha from 340 to 375 A.D), copper coins belonging to the Eastern Chalukya king Vishnuvardhana surnamed Vishamasiddhi (633 A.D.) and one lead coin were recovered. It has the impression of a horse and as such might belong to the later Satavahanas. It is on the evidence of these antiquities that it has been possible to date the Buddhist settlement here as lying between the 2nd and the 9th century A.D. For, among the earliest coins discovered at the site is that of Samudra Gupta of the 4th century AD.

As Buddhism began to spread, many centres of learning and viharas for the monks were set up in various regions. They can be seen at Thotlakonda, Bavikonda, Pavurallakonda around Visakhapatnam. They flourished from the 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE, but then gradually faded out, probably due to the revival of Hinduism.

Buddhist monks used to worship on the hill. It was originally known as Buddhuni konda (hill of the Buddha) but it came to be known as Bojjannakonda. Vaisakha Pournami is celebrated on a large scale at Bojjannakonda.

The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage, (INTACH), has appealed to the authorities to ensure better protection of Buddhist sites by taking up the declaration of Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Pavurallakonda and Bojjannakonda as UNESCO heritage sites.