Why is it in the News?

Left neglected for many years after it came to light through the ASI excavations in the 1990s, the ancient Buddhist site of Sannati on the bank of the Bhima River got a restoration project in 2022.

About Ancient Sannati Buddhist site:

• This ancient Sannati Buddhist site, situated alongside the Bhima River near Kanaganahalli in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district, offers a rich historical and cultural experience.
• Notably, it also boasts the Chandrala Parameshwari Temple, a popular attraction among tourists.

Key discoveries at this site include evidence of development across three distinct phases:

• Maurya, Early Satavahana, and Later Satavahana periods, span from the 3rd Century B.C. to the 3rd Century A.D.
• The Ranamandala area of Sannati presents a unique chronological timeline from prehistoric to early historic eras.
• Among the remarkable findings is an inscription in the Prakrit language, inscribed using Brahmi script.
• Noteworthy is the recovery of a significant stone sculpture portraying Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, surrounded by his queens and attendants, with the inscription "Raya Asoko" in Brahmi script, leaving no doubt about the identity of the depicted figure.
• The excavation also yielded around 60 dome slabs featuring sculptural depictions of Jataka stories, significant events in the life of Buddha, portraits of Shatavahana monarchs, and unique representations of Buddhist missionaries dispatched by Ashoka to various regions.
• Moreover, the ancient Nagavi Ghatikasthana, often dubbed as the Takshashila of the South, lies approximately 40 km from Sannati.
• Functioning as a prominent educational center akin to a modern-day university during the Rashtrakuta and Kalyana Chalukya dynasties from the 10th to 12th Centuries, it held great historical significance.