Kanaganahalli
Encyclopedia
Kanaganahalli is about 3 km from Sannati
. An important Buddhist site, the place where an ancient Buddhist Mahastupa site found. It is on the left bank of the Bhima river
in Chitapur taluk, Gulbarga District
in North Karnataka
, Karnataka
, India
. Nalwar is the nearest Railway station about 19 km from Kanaganahalli. The Buddhist site about 2.5 km from Chandrala Parameshwari temple of Sannati.
In circa 1st century B.C the stupa at Kanganhalli was constructed , as per the inscriptions referred to as Hama Chaitya and it was patronized by the Hinayana and Mahayana people during 3rd-4th century A.D. In the pre-Christian times with the advent of Shatavahana, the Amaravati School of Art made deep impact on the sculptural and architectural forms of Kanaganahalli region. This was indeed a period of great artistic efflorescence that gave the Maha chaitya here the most impressive form unsurpassed in the history of stupa architecture in the south India.
The sculptured panels of the medhi are distinctly of native creation. The skill of making two dimensional sculptures and the carving of typical animal motifs are also of indigenous nature. Exhibit a transition phase between the early phase of Amaravati sculptural art and the elaborately sculptured panels of Nagarjunakonda with the sculptural panels found at Kanaganahalli stupa.
The volumes of their improvement over their Amaravati counterparts. The mastery of the artist of Kanganhalli in carving the geometric patterns, floral motifs, dress and ornamentation of the contemporary times and the concept of composition of the subject matter in the large sculptured panels.
The Kanaganahalli Maha Stupa is the veritable gallery of eminent rulers like King Ashoka
and the Shatavahana rulers (Simuka, Pulumavi) are immortalized by depicting their portraits at Kanaganahalli.
Unlike the torana of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, portrait of emperor Ashoka
is said to have depicted there is inscription found at Kanaganahalli.
At Kanganhalli up to the anda portion of the stupa is available, although majority of the architectural members and the sculptural panels are dislodged from the original position.
.
and portrait of many Shatavahana king.
The very important discovery was the sculpture of Maurya emperor Ashoka
.
and ASI Planning to develop Kanaganahalli ( and Sannati
) as International Buddhist Centre.
Governament of Karnataka
had constituted Sannati
Development Authority and had appointed senior IAS official S.M. Jamdhar as its special officer.
Sannati
Sannati is a small village, located on the banks of the river Bhima in Chitapur taluk of Gulbarga District of Northern Karnataka. It is famous for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple and the recent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India.-Excavation:...
. An important Buddhist site, the place where an ancient Buddhist Mahastupa site found. It is on the left bank of the Bhima river
Bhima River
The Bhima River originates in Bhimashankar hills near Karjat on the western side of Western Ghats, known as Sahyadri, in Maharashtra state in India. Bhima flows southeast for 861 km through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh states...
in Chitapur taluk, Gulbarga District
Gulbarga District
Gulbarga district is one of the 30 districts of Karnataka state in southern India. Gulbarga city is the administrative headquarters of the district...
in North Karnataka
North Karnataka
North Karnataka is an arid plateau from elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tributaries the Bhima, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Tungabhadra...
, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Nalwar is the nearest Railway station about 19 km from Kanaganahalli. The Buddhist site about 2.5 km from Chandrala Parameshwari temple of Sannati.
History
The remains of the excavations site at Kanaganahalli can be dated from 1st cent B.C. to 3rd Cent. A.D.In circa 1st century B.C the stupa at Kanganhalli was constructed , as per the inscriptions referred to as Hama Chaitya and it was patronized by the Hinayana and Mahayana people during 3rd-4th century A.D. In the pre-Christian times with the advent of Shatavahana, the Amaravati School of Art made deep impact on the sculptural and architectural forms of Kanaganahalli region. This was indeed a period of great artistic efflorescence that gave the Maha chaitya here the most impressive form unsurpassed in the history of stupa architecture in the south India.
The sculptured panels of the medhi are distinctly of native creation. The skill of making two dimensional sculptures and the carving of typical animal motifs are also of indigenous nature. Exhibit a transition phase between the early phase of Amaravati sculptural art and the elaborately sculptured panels of Nagarjunakonda with the sculptural panels found at Kanaganahalli stupa.
The volumes of their improvement over their Amaravati counterparts. The mastery of the artist of Kanganhalli in carving the geometric patterns, floral motifs, dress and ornamentation of the contemporary times and the concept of composition of the subject matter in the large sculptured panels.
The Kanaganahalli Maha Stupa is the veritable gallery of eminent rulers like King Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
and the Shatavahana rulers (Simuka, Pulumavi) are immortalized by depicting their portraits at Kanaganahalli.
Unlike the torana of Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, portrait of emperor Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
is said to have depicted there is inscription found at Kanaganahalli.
At Kanganhalli up to the anda portion of the stupa is available, although majority of the architectural members and the sculptural panels are dislodged from the original position.
ASI Excavation Site
Kanaganahalli is the excavation site of the Archaeological Survey of IndiaArchaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...
.
Excavation during 1994 to 1998
- During the excavations (1994 to 1998) at Kanaganahalli, found remains of a massive StupaStupaA stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
, many brick built structures in the form of Chaityagriha and votive stupas were brought to light.
- During the excavations many architectural members of the stupa found like fragments of sculptured veneering slabs, members of railings, pillars , capitals, BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
padas , sculptures of yaksha and four images of BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
many more.
- The sculptured panels depicts various Jataka stories and life of Lord BuddhaBuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
and portrait of many Shatavahana king.
Inscriptions
More than 50 inscriptions were discovered from the excavations site.The very important discovery was the sculpture of Maurya emperor Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
.
Excavation during 2000 to 2002
- During the excavations (2000 to 2002) found bare ruined remnants of a number of brick built structures like paved and sheltered passages connecting them. Also found part of a possible monastic complex to the north west of the main stupa.
- Antiquities such as lead coins bear names of Shatavahana king like Satakarni, Pulumavi and Yajnasri.
- The most important finding of the excavation include a stone sculptured slab bearing the name raya AshokaAshokaAshok Maurya or Ashoka , popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests...
.
International Buddhist Centre
An important Buddhist site, Governament of KarnatakaKarnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
and ASI Planning to develop Kanaganahalli ( and Sannati
Sannati
Sannati is a small village, located on the banks of the river Bhima in Chitapur taluk of Gulbarga District of Northern Karnataka. It is famous for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple and the recent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India.-Excavation:...
) as International Buddhist Centre.
Governament of Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
had constituted Sannati
Sannati
Sannati is a small village, located on the banks of the river Bhima in Chitapur taluk of Gulbarga District of Northern Karnataka. It is famous for the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple and the recent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India.-Excavation:...
Development Authority and had appointed senior IAS official S.M. Jamdhar as its special officer.