Rare Buddha Parinirvana sculpture unearthed in Adilabad village

A rare Buddha Parinirvana sculpture has been discovered on a stone pillar at Bhimsari village in Adilabad district. Historians confirmed the find, noting its unique combination of Buddhist and Hindu carvings, making it a significant archaeological discovery in Telangana.

Hyderabad: A rare historical sculpture depicting Buddha Parinirvana, the reclining Buddha passing into final nirvana, has been discovered at Bhimsari village, Adilabad, members of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam said on Monday.

A history lecturer, Roddavaru Prithviraj, who is a member of Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam, noticed a Buddha Parinirvana sculpture carved on one side of a stone pillar with half-reliefs on all four sides in Bhimsari village, Adilabad.

---

After examining the sculpture pillar, the convenor of the history team, Sriramoju Haragopal, said, “The reclining Buddha is lying turned to his right side, with his right hand placed under his head. This is exactly the Buddha Parinirvana sculpture as described in the ‘Parinibbana Sutta’.”

Dr Shivanagireddy, CEO, Pleach India Foundation and historian who also examined the sculpture, maintained that it is indeed a Buddha Parinirvana sculpture. He explained that Buddha Parinirvana sculptures have previously been found in Telangana, one on the adhisthana (base) of the Bhimeshwara Temple in Vemulawada and another on a pale stone slab found in Mudigonda, a press release from the Charitra Brundam said.

On the remaining three sides of the pillar are half-reliefs of: Vishnu Sayana Murti (reclining Vishnu), a heroic warrior figure in royal attire holding a sword, and Uma Lingana Murti (Shiva embracing Uma/Parvati). It is rare to find such diverse religious sculptures carved on a single stone pillar, members of the Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam said on Monday.