Buddhism and Jainism were patronized in Andhra early. The story
of the Kosalan Brahmin Baoari who was converted to Buddhism after setting up an Ashram on
the banks of Godavari is well known.
Andhra Pradesh is dotted with Buddhist viharas and stupas. They were built close to the seacoast or on river banks.
The oldest rockcut chaitya of Andhra Pradesh is located in Guntupalli; it is 45 k.m from Eluru, 10 km.from Kamavarapukota.
The location of the caves (in local parlance they are
called Pandava caves) is in picturesque surroundings. There are lush green hills all
around. These hills must have reverberated with the prayers of the monks for one thousand
years. These caves and monasteries were inhabited from 2nd century BC (or may
be earlier) to 8th century AD.
The monuments of Guntupalli constitute a rock cut chaitya which is circular, four rock cut monastries, a ruined circular brick chaitya, remains of a large pillared hall,a stone built stupa and a large number of brick built votive stupas.
The chaityagriha and thae rock cut monastries are in a line on the western face of the hill. They overlook the terrace. In the inscriptions found here the hill is called Mahanagarparvata.
The rock cut chaityagriha in Guntupalli, is extremely
important as the precursor of late chaityagrihas of the west coast of India. The Façade
of the chaityagriha resembles the one at Lomas Rishi in Bihar. The rock cut stupa in the
circular chamber leaves a passage for circumbulation. The drum of the stupa is 1.15 m. in
height. The harmika on the stupa is missing. The circular dome has sixteen stone ribs, a
true copy of wooden ribs. The façade has beam ends, also an imitation of wood.
The viharas seem to have been built earlier than the chaityagriha. The cells have been excavated haphazardly. It could be due to the inexperience of stone masons. There are four viharas in a row. The façade has horse shoe arches which are found in Pitalkhora( in Maharastra) caves Excavated later. The Pitalkhoda façade in cave no. 4 is more elaborately carved. The windows of the cells in Pitaslkora have a trellis pattern whereas in Guntupalli the windows are plain. Each doorway is flanked by windows on either side. Each viharas has three cells. The cells contain rock beds. They have a niche in the wall for lighting lamps. Near the door way on either side are huge squre holes probably to install doors.
On the eastern extreme of the hills is a circular brick
chaityagriha with a stupa. An inscription found here testifies to the fact that it was
built in 2nd century BC. In front of the chaityagriha and at the back are
votive stupas one on each side of the entrance. The stupa has a cylindrical drum. The back
drop of this brick built chaityagriha is a hill. A long flight of steps leads to the
chaityagriha. Budhha images, images of one of the Avalokiteshwara in bronze were found
near the chaityagriha. The pedastral of the image contained the Buddhist creed formula
"YE DHARMA HETO PRABHAVA HETAM TESAM TATHAGATO HYAVADAT TESAM CA YO NIRODHA EVAM VADI
MAHASRAMANA".
Facing the chaityagriha are as many as 35 votive stupas. Some of them contained relic boxes with golden beads. The votive stuypas are circular and built with bricks. Two of them at their base have a purnakumbha motif. There is a stone built stupa near by.
Vestiges of a pillared hall have been found near the stupa. It could
have been the place where the monks gathered to offer their prayers. An ancient
inscription mentions the mandapa being built by the Kalinga king Sripada of the Kharavela
dynasty. Kharavela was a Jain. Before the buddhist occupied Guntupalli caves may be the
Jains had reached in these caves. Another 5th century AD inscription of the
Salankayanakhy Naneliverman mentions his gift to the Siddharthikanam Nanaliverman mentions
his making a gift to the Siddharthikanam vihara. Siddhartikas were one of the sects
mentioned in Amaravat9I inscriptions.