Andhradesa

Andhradesha, an ancient region, derived its name from the Andhra tribe that flourished along the Godavari and Krishna river deltas. The term Andhradesha is a compound word, derived from the words "Andhra" and "desha". "Andhra" refers to the ancient Andhras tribe, while "desha" denotes country or territory.

Other names are Andhra, Andhrapatha, Andhramandala and Andhrabhumi.^[1]

The heartland of Andhradesha lay in the fertile deltaic regions of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. These mighty rivers, carrying vast quantities of silt from the Western Ghats, formed expansive deltas that enriched the surrounding lands. The Kolanu lake (Kolleru Lake), situated between these deltas, played a significant role in the region's ecology and history. The deltaic region, with its rich alluvial soil and abundant water resources, supported a thriving agricultural economy, fostering the growth of prosperous cities and towns.^[2]

Historically, Andhapura serving as its earliest capital. Later, Dhanakataka gained prominence which was visited by the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang. Its core territory encompassed modern-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, as well as Ptolemy's writings, mention about Andhradesha.^[3]

At its zenith, the region extended its influence over parts of present-day Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Geographically, Andhradesha encompassed the eastern Deccan Plateau, bounded by the Balaghat Range to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the east. This region's diverse landscape, including fertile coastal plains and rugged plateaus, significantly influenced its historical trajectory and cultural development.

Buddhism spread rapidly among the non-Aryan tribes of the Andhra region, gaining wider acceptance there than in Aryan society. The number of Buddhist sites in the northern districts of the former Madras State, particularly within the Andhra region, greatly outnumbers those found in the southern districts. From Sālihunde in present-day Visakhapatnam district in the north to Chinna Ganjam in Guntur district in the south, and from Gooty in Anantapur district in the west to Bhattiprolu in the east, the Andhra region experienced remarkable growth in Buddhist culture and art during the three centuries before and after the birth of Christ. A study of various Buddhist sites across South India indicates the existence of five major ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, all converging at Vengi, located centrally in the Andhra region. Most Buddhist establishments were situated along these routes, which connected Vengi to Kalinga, Dravida, Karnata, Maharashtra, and Kosala.^[4]

Mahayana Legacy

Main article: Mahayana

The Andhra region was not merely a centre for traditional Buddhism, it was the crucible where Mahayana Buddhism was forged. This school developed primarily under the influence of the Mahasanghika sects near the Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda regions. It was here that the legendary philosopher Acharya Nagarjuna (c. 150–250 CE) formulated the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) philosophy based on the concept of Sunyata (Emptiness).^[5][6][7]

Nagarjuna's intellectual work, conducted at the university near the Krishna River, transformed the faith from a monastic practice into a global movement. Today, Mahayana is the largest and most widespread branch of Buddhism in the world, dominating the religious landscapes of China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The iconography found in the Amaravati School of Art, the first to depict the Buddha in human form, set the aesthetic standard for Mahayana art that traveled along the Silk Road, linking Andhra to the spiritual life of East Asia.

The coinage of the period indicates that lead and potin were more commonly used than copper. The large and diverse range of coin issues suggests the existence of a vast empire extending from coast to coast. Additionally, the discovery of a significant number of Roman coins provides evidence of active maritime trade with the Romans.^[4]

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions of export of onyx stones, porcelain, muslin, cotton, perfumes, gum, and silk. Ptolemy refers to the Andhra people, trade along the eastern coast of India, and the ports of Kontakossyla, Koddura, and Allosygne. He also notes the port of Apheterion in the Maisolia region, corresponding to the Krishna River delta.^[8]

Maritime trade played a crucial role in the prosperity of Buddhism in the Andhra region for nearly six centuries, from approximately 300 BCE to 300 CE. Many Buddhists were drawn from the mercantile classes, whose wealth contributed significantly to the construction of major Buddhist sites such as Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, and other stupas. Ancient market towns in the Andhra region included Dhannakataka (circa 250 BCE), Kevurura, Vijayapura, and Narasala.^[8]

The linguistic history of Andhradesa is characterised by the transition from Prakrit and Sanskrit to the indigenous Telugu language.

• Bhattiprolu Script: One of the earliest precursors to the Southern scripts, discovered in the Bhattiprolu Stupa (c. 3rd century BCE). It contains unique features not found in Ashokan Brahmi, suggesting a regional variation in literacy very early on.^[9]
• Telugu-Kannada Script: Between the 4th and 10th centuries CE, the Telugu-Kannada script evolved from the Brahmi used by the Satavahanas and Andhra Ikshvakus. This script eventually diverged into the modern distinct scripts of Telugu and Kannada.

• History of Andhra Pradesh
• History of Telangana
• Amaravati art