In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located (2023)
✓ Correct answer: a) Andhra
ExplanationOption (a) is correct: Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh holds historical significance as the site of ancient Dhanyakataka, a prominent town in the Deccan region of the later Satavahanas, as recorded in numerous inscriptions.This area also housed a significant Buddhist settlement.According to some Tibetan scriptures Dhanyakataka is the place where early Kalachakra tradition took off.Kalachakra is a Buddhist tantric practice.It was a significant hub of Mahayana Buddhism and was associated with the Mahasanghika sect.The famous Amaravati Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in India, is located near this site.Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect : Gandhara (Pakistan-Afghanistan region) was a center of Gandhara art and Mahayana Buddhism.Kalinga (Odisha) was significant for Ashoka’s Buddhist transformation but not specifically for the Mahasanghikas.Magadha (Bihar) was the heartland of early Buddhism but not linked to Dhanyakataka.Additional Information: Major ancient Buddhist Sites :
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