An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c9.s19.t3.24

v1.c9.s19.t3.24

The rulers built brick temples of Śiva (Mahādeva, Puṣpabhadra, Noḍagīśvara) and Mahāsena (Kārttikeya), Devasena, the *mātṛkās* and Kubera. Their plans exhibit a remarkable similarity to the Buddhist *caityagṛhas* of the place. The patronage to Buddhism was also phenomenal. Almost all the sites in coastal Andhra right from SALIHUNDAM (Dt Srikakulam) to Chandavaram (Dt Prakasham) were renovated and sculptural embellishment added. Excavations at the *stūpa* sites have yielded large quantities of pottery—fine red-slipped ware, Red Polished Ware [11.23], sprinklers, kaoline and terracotta objects, etc., besides a large number of sculptures and lead Ikṣvāku coins. At NAGARJUNAKONDA itself no less than 30 major monastic establishments were raised, with the nucleus of the Mahā-caitya believed to enshrine the tooth relic of Buddha. Separate monastic establishments for the foreign missionaries also existed at this place, viz. the Simhala-vihāra.