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Mention of Schools of Buddhism in Inscriptions of Deccan and their philosophical influence


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Category
Articles
Publisher
Adyar Library
Publishing Date
01-Oct-2015
volume
78-79
Issue
1
Pages
279-291
  • Abstract

Buddhism was introduced in Deccan in the time of Asoka. With the spread of Buddhism various Chaityas and Vihara were excavated and carved in the hills of Deccan. Contemporary Epigraphical evidences in the different Buddhist Caves show that different sects flourished in different area of Deccan. Cetika or Cetiya school is mentioned at Amaravati and also in the Nasik Cave and Junnar Cave. Purvasaila and Aparsaila school is mentioned in the Nagarjunakonda and Kanheri. Vinitadeva and the author of the Bhiksuvarsagraprccha divided the eighteen sects in to five group thus mentions Schools of Mahasanghika comprising Purvasaila and Aparasaila. Taranath in his 42nd Chapter has identified the different names of schools in the lists of Bhavya, Vasumitra, Vinitadeva and others and identified Caityaka School (Caityaka=Purvasaila=Schools of Mahadeva) Though influence of different schools of Buddhism can be seen in inscriptional evidences it will be difficult to say that particular area had a influence of particular school or particular school influenced the architecture of the cave. In this paper I intend to study , whether the school of Cetika and Aparsaila and Purvasaila which are found in inscriptions had influence on the particular area where inscription is found and whether that school influenced the architecture of the cave.

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