Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c15.s2.t5.1
Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c15.s2.t5.1
- Language
- English
c15.s2.t5.1
A unique monument exposed at Nagarjunikonda to the north of the citadel is the Ākrīḍa or the place of wrestling tournaments, Mallaśālā, also called Akshavāṭaka. Although described many a time in literary texts actual examples are not preserved excepting this unique building at Vijayapurī sited along the bank of the Kṛṣṇā. It appears that this arena or ground for wrestling contests was conceived on a grand scale and the royalty seated under the central pavilion on the western side also witnessed the bouts. According to the excavator: