2600:1700:6CB0:BCA0:44E:EF79:552:EDCE at 23:41, 11 May 2022

2022-05-11T23:41:52Z

New page

{{short description|Buddha statue in Amaravathi, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2016}}
{{Italic title|string=Dhyana Buddha}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = ''Dhyana Buddha''
| image = Dhyaan buddha Amaravthi.jpg
| caption =
| location = [[Amaravathi (village), Guntur district|Amaravathi]], India
| locmapin = India Andhra Pradesh
| map_caption = Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
| coordinates = {{coord|16.5789|80.3531|region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| height = {{convert|125|ft|m}}
| sculptor =
| beginning_label = Dedicated
| beginning_date = 2015
| designation1_free1name = Material
| designation1_free1value = Concrete, stone
| governing_body = [[APTDC]]
}}

The '''''Dhyana Buddha''''' is a statue of [[Gautama Buddha]] seated in a meditative posture located in [[Amaravathi (village), Guntur district|Amaravathi]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[India]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/dhyana-buddha-project-a-lone-mans-crusade/article2623815.ece|title=Dhyana Buddha project: a lone man's crusade|date=2011-11-13|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-06-02|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Completed in 2015, the statue is {{Convert|125|ft|abbr=on}} tall and is situated on a 4.5-acre site on the banks of the [[Krishna River|Krishna river]].<ref name="structure" /> It is embellished with sculptures from the Amaravati School of Art which flourished in the region in 200 BC - 200 AD.

== History ==
[[File:Amaravathi mahachaitya art in Dhyana Buddha Statue.jpg|thumb|Mahachaitya Art in Dhyana Buddha Statue]]
The recorded history of Amaravati and nearby [[Dharanikota]] dates to the 5th century BC. It was the capital of [[Satavahana]]s who ruled from the 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD who also patronized Buddhism along with Hinduism. The most important historic monument in Amaravathi town is the [[Amaravati Mahachaitya|Mahachaitya]]. It is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India which maintains a site museum known as old museum.

The project was conceived by R. Mallikarjuna Rao in 2002, who was then serving as the Deputy Director, Social Welfare Department in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. Mallikarjuna Rao was 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 and the construction work began in 2003–04. The funds for the project were provided by the Andhra Pradesh state government, Guntur district administration, [[14th Dalai Lama|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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="structure" />

== Location and structure ==
[[File:Budha Amaravathi-3.jpg|thumb|Amaravathi Andhrapradesh]]
The Dhyana Buddha statue of {{Convert|125|ft|abbr=on}} is located at [[Amaravathi (village), Guntur district|Amaravati]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra-pradesh/2013/apr/01/125-feet-dhyana-buddha-statue-to-be-unveiled--463877.html|title=125-feet Dhyana Buddha statue to be unveiled|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-06-02}}</ref> It is situated on the banks of [[Krishna river]] in {{convert|4.5|acre|abbr=on}} with eight pillars on a [[Pandal|Lotus pandal]].<ref name="structure">{{cite news|last=Samuel|first=P. Jonathan|title=Dhyana Buddha to be the cynosure|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/dhyana-buddha-to-be-the-cynosure/article7791967.ece|access-date=17 March 2016|work=The Hindu|date=22 October 2015}}</ref>

== Structure and significance ==
[[File:Budha Amaravathi-2.jpg|thumb|Amaravathi Andhrapradesh]]
The statue was commissioned in 2003 and completed in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140915/nation-current-affairs/article/tallest-dhyana-buddha-be-ready-amaravati|title=Tallest Dhyana Buddha to be ready in Amaravati|date=2014-09-15|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en|access-date=2019-06-02}}</ref> The statue stands on massive Lotus pandal supported by eight pillars symbolizing the Buddha's eight fold path to attain salvation. The area is divided into four zones depicting the noble truths and five ayaka pillars for stages of life.<ref name="structure" /> APTDC is going to complete the Theme Park in front of the statue which is said to be opened for the public in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Tallest-Buddha-statue-to-be-unveiled-in-Guntur-soon/articleshow/7783478.cms|title=Tallest Buddha statue to be unveiled in Guntur soon|date=March 25, 2011|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-06-02}}</ref>

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 [[relief]]s from the [[Amaravati Mahachaitya]] stupa which are now in museums around India and the world.

==See also==
{{Commonscat|Dhyana Buddha Statue}}
* [[List of tallest statues]]
* [[List of statues]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Statues in India}}
{{Amaravati topics}}

[[Category:Buddha statues in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Guntur district]]
[[Category:Stone Buddha statues]]
[[Category:Concrete Buddha statues]]
[[Category:Colossal statues in India]]
[[Category:Amaravati]]
[[Category:2015 establishments in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:2015 sculptures]]

Dhyana Buddha statue - Revision history

2600:1700:6CB0:BCA0:44E:EF79:552:EDCE at 23:41, 11 May 2022