The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s7.74

v1.c7.s7.74

The monks themselves were subdivided into several sects. The early literature of Buddhism refers to the schools of the Andhaka monks which belonged specially to Andhra. From the contemporary epigraphs it appears that some of the sects flourished in particular towns of the Deccan: the Bhadayaniyas at Nāsik and Kānheri, the Mahāsānghikas at Kārle, the Dhammattariyas at Sopārā and Junnār, the Chetakiyas at Amarāvatī, and the Purvaśailas and Avaraśailas at Nāgārjunakoṇḍa.² Unlike the Sātavāhana rulers, Uṣabhadata patronized all sects alike. His donations were made in favour of the Buddhist ascetics ‘without any distinction of sect or origin’.³