THESIS SYNOPSIS

TOPIC

BUDDHIST
MONASTERY

S.HARRETHARANI

211815251031
INTRODUCTION

India’s Ministry of Tourism and Culture has invited proposals from voluntary
Buddhist organizations, including Monasteries, engaged in the propagation and
scientific development of Buddhist culture and tradition, for funding to preserve
and develop Buddhist culture and art.

BACKGROUND STUDY

MONASTERIES

Monasteries provide an experience of quiet and solitary existence in abundance.

While most Buddhist monasteries in India offer accommodation for those who are
taking a course or studying Buddhism, some of them also offer accommodation for
tourists and adventure junkies looking for solitude.

The term Monastery has been derived from a Greek word 'monasterion', which
means the habitat and workplace of a community of monks or nuns. In Buddhism, a
monastery is known as Vihara or Gompa . It is believed that buddhist monasteries
emerged somewhere around the fourth century BC. The practice of vassa, the
retreat undertaken by Buddhist monks and nuns during the South Asian rainy season,
is said to have been the inspiration behind the Buddhist monastery.

Under Vassa, wandering Buddhist monks and nuns were confined in a particular
place for the monsoon season, lasting for approximately three months. This was
done to prevent them from upsetting new plant growth or becoming stranded in
stormy weather. These retreats were organized in the pavilions and parks donated
to the sangha(community), by wealthy supporters. With the passage of time, this
routine of staying in the retreats during the vassa retreat advanced into an strict
lifestyle for the nuns and the monks.

They started living in the monasteries as a Sangha, throughout the year. Initially,
Buddhist monasteries were used as residence by the Sangha, as a whole. However,
later this practice changed in some of the counties and only the monks started
residing in the monasteries. For the nuns, nunneries started coming up. In the
Indian subcontinent, Buddhist monasteries progressively grew into centers of
learning. They served as the places where philosophical principles were developed
and debated.

NEED OF THE PROJECT

BUDDHISM IN ANDHRAPRADESH
The timeless influence of Buddhism is subtly deep-rooted in the state of
Andhra Pradesh. Buddhist monuments such as Stupas, Chaityas, and
Viharas are scattered throughout the state. From the remains of Buddhist
Stupas in Amaravati to the Sankaram Buddhist archaeological site, the
state is teeming with priceless Buddhist relics.
The advert of buddhism into the Telugu county if traced back to the lifetime
of the Buddha I.e. 5th B.C. According to the Parayanavagga of Sutta Nipata,
Bawari, a Brahmin of Assaka country (Karimnagar- Nizamabad area of the
present day Telangana) Dispatched his 16 disciples to meet Buddha. These
disciples started propagating the Dhamma. Buddhism was the dominant
faith of the Telugu country for more than millennium and left a profound
influence on the history and culture of its people.
Buddhism in Andhra pradesh, though assigned to per Ashokan time, the
Maurya emperor Asoka was responsible for the spread of Buddhism in this
part of the country during the 3rd century B.C. when Andhradesa was part
of his domain. The Mahastupas at Dhanyakataka (Amaravati), Bhattiprolu
and the rock cut caves at Guntupalli and several monasteries at salihundam
where also constructed during this period. Most of the Buddhist Sites in
Andhra Pradesh witnessed all the three phases of Buddhism viz.,
Theravada,Mahayana and Vajrayana.

AMARAVATI- PROPOSAL OF BUDDHIST MONASTERY AND BUDDHIST TEMPLE

Development of Buddhist Circuit:

Shalihundam-Thotlakonda-Bavikonda-Bojjanakonda-Amaravati-Anupuapproved
under Swadesh Darshan Scheme in 2017-18 at the cost of
Rs. 52.34 crore. Rs. 10.47 crore has been released so far.

Amaravati is situated on the southern bank of the Krishna River, almost 22 miles
north of Guntur City in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It was a celebrated
Buddhist center during the 2nd century BCE. The Amaravati stupa, currently in ruins,
was built during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka in 200 BCE and is related
to the Vajrayana Buddhist tradition. Antiquities discovered at the site have been
preserved by the state government and in museums in Amaravati operated by the
Archaeological Survey of India, an agency under India’s Ministry of Culture. Notable
artifacts include statues of the Buddha with lotus symbols on his feet, curled hair,
and long ear lobes, and sculptures of the female deity Tara and the bodhisattva
Padmapani. Other objects excavated from the site are held by the Chennai
Government Museum and the British Museum in London.

AIM
To spread the significance of Buddhism for the people of India and Internationals
and to make it a centre for religious work & meditation, a centre for Buddhist
learning and a residence for the monk.

OBJECTIVE

Providing Monasteries engaging development of Buddhist culture, tradition and

research in related fields

Expressing the tradition and culture of Buddhism

Providing Residence for Monks

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

Providing cultural centre , museum depicting the traditions and culture of buddhism
and Monastery for Monks

TENTATIVE PROGRAM

Cultural centre
Gallery
Monastery for Monks
Dormitory for tourists

TENTATIVE SITE

Amaravathi

https://destinationreporterindia.com/2019/08/02/andhra-pradesh-two-steps-forwa
rd-three-steps-backward/