Dhyana Buddha statue

The Dhyana Buddha is a statue of Gautama Buddha seated in a meditative posture located in Amaravathi of Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] The statue is 125 ft (38 m) tall and is situated on a 4.5-acre site on the banks of the Krishna river.[2] It is embellished with sculptures from the Amaravati School of Art which flourished in the region in 200 BCE - 200 CE.

Dhyana Buddha
LocationAmaravathi, India
Coordinates16.5789°N 80.3531°E / 16.5789; 80.3531
Height125 feet (38 m)
Dedicated2015
Governing bodyAPTDC
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India

History
Mahachaitya Art in Dhyana Buddha Statue

The recorded history of Amaravati and nearby Dharanikota dates to the 5th century BCE. It was the capital of Satavahanas who ruled from the 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE who also patronized Buddhism along with Hinduism. The most important historic monument in Amaravathi town is the Mahachaitya. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India which maintains a site museum known as old museum.

The project was conceived by R. Mallikarjuna Rao in 2002, who was then serving as the Deputy Director, Social Welfare Department in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Mallikarjuna Rao was inspired by the magnificence of the Amaravati School of Art which flourished in the region circa 200 BCE - 200 CE and wanted to recreate it. The Guntur district administration provided 4.5 acre of land and the construction work began in 2003-04. The funds for the project were provided by the Andhra Pradesh state government, Guntur district administration, Dalai Lama, Tourism Department, Kalachakra organisers Norbulingka, and also from the sale of greeting cards and paintings done by Mallikarjuna Rao. The Department of Tourism took over the project in 2007. The construction was completed in 2015.[1][2]

Location and structure

The Dhyana Buddha statue of 125 ft (38 m) is located at Amaravati.[3] It is situated on the banks of Krishna river in 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) with eight pillars on a Lotus pandal.[2]

Structure and significance

The statue was commissioned in 2003 and completed in 2015.[4] The statue stands on massive Lotus pandal supported by eight pillars symbolizing the Buddha's eight fold path to attain salvation. The area is divided into four zones depicting the noble truths and five ayaka pillars for stages of life.[2] APTDC is going to complete the Theme Park in front of the statue which is said to be opened for the public in 2018.[5]

The statue has a three-layered museum in the base underneath it, which consists of sculptures of Amaravati Art depicting scenes with Buddhist significance, most modern copies of the original reliefs from the Amaravati Mahachaitya stupa which are now in museums around India and the world.

See also

References
  1. "Dhyana Buddha project: a lone man's crusade". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 13 November 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 June 2019.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Samuel Jonathan, P (22 October 2015). "Dhyana Buddha to be the cynosure". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. "125-feet Dhyana Buddha statue to be unveiled". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. "Tallest Dhyana Buddha to be ready in Amaravati". Deccan Chronicle. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  5. Mar 25, TNN | Updated; 2011; Ist, 6:54. "Tallest Buddha statue to be unveiled in Guntur soon | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 June 2019.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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