Dhyana Buddha statue

Buddha statue in Amaravathi, India

Dhyana Buddha

Location| Amaravathi, India
Coordinates| 16°34′44″N 80°21′11″E﻿ / ﻿16.5789°N 80.3531°E﻿ / 16.5789; 80.3531
Height| 125 feet (38 m)
Dedicated| 2015
Governing body| APTDC

Location in Andhra Pradesh, India

The Dhyana Buddha is a statue of Gautama Buddha seated in a meditative posture located in Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] Completed in 2015, the statue is 125 ft (38 m) tall and is occupies a 4.5-acre site on the banks of the Krishna River.[2] It is embellished with modern reproductions of sculptures from the Amaravati School of art which flourished in the region from 200 BC to 200 AD.

## History

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Mahachaitya Art in Dhyana Buddha Statue

The recorded history of Amaravati and nearby Dharanikota dates back to the 5th century BC. Amaravati was the capital of Satavahanas, who ruled from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD. The Satavahanas were notable for their patronage of both Buddhism and Hinduism. The most important historic monument in Amaravathi is the Mahachaitya, which is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and has a site museum known as the old museum.

The Dhyana Buddha project was conceived by R. Mallikarjuna Rao in 2002, who was then the Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. Inspired by the magnificence of the Amaravati School of Art, which flourished in the region circa 200 BC – 200 AD and wanted to recreate it. The Guntur district administration provided 4.5 acre of land for the project, and construction began in 2003–04. The funds for the project were provided by the Andhra Pradesh state government, Guntur district administration, Dalai Lama, Tourism Department, Kalachakra organisers Norbulingka, and also from the sale of greeting cards and paintings done by Mallikarjuna Rao. The Department of Tourism took over the project in 2007. The construction was completed in 2015.[1][2]

## Location and structure

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Amaravathi Andhrapradesh

The Dhyana Buddha statue of 125 ft (38 m) is located at Amaravati.[3] It is situated on the banks of the Krishna River in 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) with eight pillars on a Lotus pandal.[2]

## Structure and significance

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Amaravathi Andhrapradesh

The statue was commissioned in 2003 and completed in 2015.[4] The statue stands on massive Lotus pandal supported by eight pillars symbolizing the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path to attain salvation. The area is divided into four zones depicting the noble truths and five ayaka pillars for stages of life.[2] APTDC is going to complete the Theme Park in front of the statue which is said to be opened for the public in 2018.[5]

The statue has a three-layered museum in the base underneath it, which consists of sculptures of Amaravati art depicting scenes with Buddhist significance, most modern copies of the original reliefs from the Amaravati Mahachaitya stupa which are now in museums around India and the world.

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhyana Buddha Statue.

* List of tallest statues
* List of statues

## References

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1. ^ a b "Dhyana Buddha project: a lone man's crusade". The Hindu. 13 November 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
2. ^ a b c d Samuel, P. Jonathan (22 October 2015). "Dhyana Buddha to be the cynosure". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
3. ^ "125-feet Dhyana Buddha statue to be unveiled". The New Indian Express. April 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
4. ^ "Tallest Dhyana Buddha to be ready in Amaravati". Deccan Chronicle. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
5. ^ "Tallest Buddha statue to be unveiled in Guntur soon". The Times of India. 25 March 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2019.

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Statues in India

In situ|

* B. R. Ambedkar
* The Buddha
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Under
construction|

* B. R. Ambedkar
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Proposed|

* Birsa Munda
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Related|

* Sculpture in the Indian subcontinent
* Tallest statues in India

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Amaravati topics

History|

* Satavahana dynasty

Geography|

* Andhra Pradesh Capital Region

Monuments|

* Amaravati Stupa

Neighbourhoods|

* Abbarajupalem
* Ananthavaram
* Borupalem
* Dondapadu
* Krishnayapalem
* Lingayapalem
* Mandadam
* Nekkallu
* Nelapadu, Amaravati
* Navuluru
* Penumaka
* Pitchikalapalem
* Rayapudi
* Sakhamuru
* Thullur
* Undavalli
* Velagapudi
* Venkatapalem

Government
and administration|

* Amaravati Metropolitan Region Development Authority
* Andhra Pradesh Secretariat

Tourist attractions|

* Krishna River
* Dhyana Buddha statue
* Archaeological Museum, Amaravati
* Cultural Heritage Museum, Amaravathi

Higher education|

| Universities|

* SRM University
* VIT University

|

Medical colleges|

* AIIMS Mangalagiri

Hospitals|

List of hospitals in Amaravati

Transport|

| Road|

* Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation
* Amaravati seed capital road
* Amaravati–Anantapur Expressway

|

Places of worship|

* Anathavaram Venkateswara Swamy Temple
* Amararamam

Cuisine|

* Andhra cuisine
* Punukulu

Water bodies|

* Krishna River
* Kondaveedu Stream

Sports|

* ACA International Cricket Stadium

Other topics|

* List of cities in India by population

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