Q. In which one of the following regions was Dhanyakataka, which flourished as a prominent Buddhist centre under the Mahasanghikas, located?

• Andhra
• Gandhara
• Kalinga
• Magadha

Answer: (a) Andhra

Notes:

• Amaravati (Andhra) is the site of ancient Dhanyakataka, an important town in the Deccan and the capital of the later Satavahanas, mentioned in many inscriptions. A large Buddhist establishment was located here. The six occupational periods ranged from the 2nd century BCE to the 2nd/3rd century CE.

Dhanyakataka (as a Prominent Buddhist Centre)

• Dhanyakataka, also known as Dharanikota, was an ancient city located in present-day Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was an important Buddhist center during the ancient and medieval periods.
• Dhanyakataka was founded in the 5th century BCE by the Satavahana dynasty. The Satavahanas were a powerful dynasty that ruled over much of South India from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. Dhanyakataka was the capital of the Satavahanas from the 1st to the 3rd centuries CE.
• Dhanyakataka was a major center of Buddhist learning and culture. The city was home to a number of monasteries and universities, including the Dharmagupta Vihara, which was one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in India. Dhanyakataka was also a major center of Buddhist art and architecture. The city was home to a number of temples and stupas, including the Great Stupa at Amaravati, which is one of the most important Buddhist monuments in India.
• Dhanyakataka declined in importance after the fall of the Satavahanas in the 3rd century CE. The city was sacked by the Pallavas in the 6th century CE and was eventually abandoned.

Prominent historic Buddhist sites