Historians believe that the Sannati Ranamandal in Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district was a fortified area spreading over 210 acres, of which only a couple of acres have so far been excavated.
Key points
- The area was one of the major Buddhist centres that flourished with the active support of Emperor Ashoka.
- The areas came under the control of Satavahanas after the Mouryas.
- The Maha Stupa, which measures nearly 22 meters in diameter and rose to a height of about 17 meters, is believed to have been developed in three constructional phases – Maurya, Early Satavahana and Later Satavahana periods stretching from 3rd Century BC to 3rd Century AD.
- The archaeologists believe that the Stupa was destroyed by natural calamities.
- The minor rock edict found at Maski town in Raichur district in 1915 convincingly established that Devanampiye and Piyadasi (‘beloved of the gods’ and ‘one with a benevolent gaze’) were the titles of Ashoka.
- Till then, the identity of Devanampiye and Piyadasi which were widely referred to in ancient inscriptions remained unknown.
