CEO Diary
Dr. E. Sivanagi Reddy-Sthapathi
CEO Diary
Dr. E. Sivanagi Reddy-Sthapathi
Buddhist Pillars from the Foundations of Gopura
On one of the Preserve Heritage for Posterity (PHP) surveys driving past the Tripurantakam temple in Prakasam district, I noticed a JCB excavating near the temple’s northern side, for a Gopura under construction. My curiosity was piqued and I decided to investigate.
Approaching the site, I saw a pile of stones being removed and discarded. On closer inspection, something remarkable caught my eye: two limestone pillars, their surfaces adorned with inscriptions in Prakrit (Brahmi script) and Sanskrit (Devanagari script) from the 1st and 10th Centuries CE.
These pillars were remnants of a Buddhist past, whose presence is a silent testimony to the region’s early spiritual heritage. I immediately spoke to the temple authorities, explaining the historical importance of the discovery and urged them to safeguard these two invaluable artefacts.
This unexpected find reminded me again of the stories history holds beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered and preserved for future generations. It was a moment where the past met the present, underscoring our shared responsibility to protect our heritage. (Pleach)
