The Amaravati Stupa Inscription: Evidence of the Ancient Indian Saṅgha

Introduction

The Great Stupa of Amaravati, located in present-day Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh (South India), is one of the most important Buddhist monuments of early India. Its construction began around 300 B.E. (c. 1st century BCE). Originally built of stone and red bricks, it was later encased with carved marble slabs of remarkable artistic and epigraphic value.

Numerous inscriptions have been recovered from the site. Among them, one particularly noteworthy inscription provides unique evidence about the ancient Buddhist monastic community (Saṅgha), including the continuity of arahants well into the Common Era.

The Inscription

This inscription was engraved on a white marble pillar, now preserved in the Amaravati Museum. Written in Prakrit language using the Brāhmī script, it dates to approximately 300–500 B.E. (c. 1st–2nd century CE).

Text (transliteration):

𑀭𑀬𑀲𑁂𑀮𑀦𑀺𑀯𑀸𑀲𑀺𑀦𑁄 𑀯𑀲𑀺𑀪𑀽𑀢𑀲
𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀣𑁂𑀭𑀲 𑀅𑀬𑀭 𑀪𑀽𑀢𑀭𑀔𑀺𑀢𑀲
𑀅𑀢𑁂𑀯𑀸𑀲𑀺𑀓𑀲 𑀘𑀽𑀮𑀅𑀬𑀭𑀲 𑀅𑀭𑀳
𑀢𑀲 𑀅𑀬𑀺𑀭 𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀭𑀔𑀺𑀢𑀲 𑀅𑀢𑁂𑀯𑀸
𑀲𑀺𑀦𑀺𑀬𑀸 𑀪𑀺𑀔𑀼𑀦𑀺𑀬𑀸 𑀦𑀤𑀲 𑀣𑀪𑁄 𑀤𑀸𑀦𑀁

Restored reading:

(Ra)yaselanivāsino Vasibhūtasa (Ma)hātherasa ayira Bhūtarakkhitasa (Ate)vāsikasa Cūlāyilasa Ara(h)atasa ayira Budharakkhitasa atevā- siniyā Bhikkhuniyā Nandasa thabho dānaṃ

Translation:

“This stone pillar is the meritorious gift (dāna) of Cūlāyila, the pupil (antevāsika) of the Great Elder (Mahāthera) Bhūtarakkhita, skilled in vasi, who resided at Rayasela; and also a pupil of the bhikkhunī Nandā, who herself was a pupil of the Arahant, the Great Elder Buddharakkhita.”

Key Information from the Inscription

1. The Donor:

   • The donor was Cūlāyila, identified as an antevāsika (pupil or disciple).

2. Lineage of Teachers:

   • He was a disciple of Mahāthera Bhūtarakkhita, described as “skilled in vasi” and resident of Rayasela.

   • He was also a disciple of the bhikkhunī Nandā, herself a pupil of the Arahant Mahāthera Buddharakkhita.

3. Reference to an Arahant:

   • The explicit mention of “Arahat Mahāthera Buddharakkhita” is of great historical significance, since it provides epigraphic evidence of arahants still active in India around 500–600 B.E. (c. 1st–2nd century CE).

Historical Significance

• Evidence of Arahants: This inscription is among the rare epigraphic records that explicitly attest to the existence of arahants in the centuries after the Buddha’s Parinibbāna.

• Integration of Bhikkhunīs: The lineage highlights the active role of bhikkhunīs (nuns) in transmitting the Dhamma and training disciples.

• Regional Buddhist Networks: The reference to Rayasela suggests the presence of established monastic centers beyond Amaravati itself, connected through discipleship lineages.

• Continuity of Saṅgha Traditions: The document illustrates how discipleship (antevāsika relationships) preserved continuity within both male and female branches of the Saṅgha.

Conclusion

The Amaravati pillar inscription not only preserves the memory of its donor, Cūlāyila, but also offers invaluable insights into the early Buddhist monastic community. Its reference to both monks and nuns, and especially to an Arahant Mahāthera, underscores the vibrancy and sanctity of the Saṅgha during the early centuries CE.

It stands as a vital piece of epigraphic evidence confirming that arahants were still present in India well into the Common Era, and that both monks and nuns played crucial roles in sustaining the lineage of discipleship at the great centers of Buddhist devotion such as Amaravati.

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