An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s12.t2.5

v1.c19.s12.t2.5

Significantly, with the rise of various organized sects during the early Christian centuries, the monastic establishments, specially of Gandhāra, evolved into well-knit units, both the *vihāras* and the places of worship, including image-chapels, forming an inseparable whole. This tradition of combining the place of worship with the *vihāra* or *saṅghārāma* can be noticed as early as the 3rd century B.C. in Andhra. The early phase of the *stūpas* at AMARAVATI, Bhattiprolu and Kesanapalli, all in Dt Guntur, belongs to the 2nd century B.C.; it gave rise to a rich tradition of sculptural art comparable to the art of Bharhut and SANCHI. Belonging to the same phase is the circular *caitya-gṛha*, with *vihāra* close by, at Guntapalli—the entire complex being cut out of rock. In course of time more than 30 settlements sprang up along the coastal route and in the plains of the Krishna and the Godavari basins. By and large these establishments are examples of brick construction. A developed monastic unit here consisted of a principal *stūpa*, two apsidal *caitya-gṛhas*—one for the *stūpa* and the other for the image—besides a three-winged *vihāra* enclosing a pillared hall. More than 30 monastic establishments, accommodating about 450 monks, grew up at NAGARJUNAKONDA itself during the 3rd century A.D. Datable to the 4th century the settlement at DEVNIMORI in Gujarat is also a large brick-built complex the like of which came to light also at VANAVASI, Dt N. Kanara, and SANNATHI, Dt Gulbarga, in Karnataka.