Buddhism in the Krishna River Valley of Andhra

The introduction repositions the Krishna River Valley of Andhra within the wider history of Buddhism, arguing that the region played a pivotal role from at least the third century BCE through later periods of decline and transformation. The chapters examine the emergence of urban Buddhism in Andhra, the role of material culture and stūpa worship, Mahāsāṃghika and Abhidharma traditions, Amaravati’s ritual and visual culture, and Andhra’s impact on Sri Lankan Buddhism. The later chapters expand the discussion to South Indian political and philosophical contexts, including Candrakīrti’s critique of military culture, Mahāyāna developments along the Krishna River, and Buddhist politics in post-Buddhist Andhra. Together, the essays present Andhra as a dynamic Buddhist landscape where art, doctrine, ritual, urban life, and political power intersected to produce a legacy of wider Asian significance.