Rare Four-Sided Stone Pillar Featuring Buddha Parinirvana Sculpture Found in Adilabad, Telangana

Key Facts

• The pillar was found in June 2026 in Bhimsari village, Adilabad district, Telangana.
• It features four half-relief carvings on its sides representing Buddha in Parinirvana posture, Vishnu Sayana Murti (reclining Vishnu), a royal warrior figure, and Uma Lingana Murti (Shiva embracing Uma/Parvati).
• The Buddha Parinirvana depiction follows the iconography described in the Parinibbana Sutta of the Pali Canon, showing the reclining Buddha lying on his right side with the right hand under his head.
• The pillar is stylistically dated to the 10th century CE, a period noted for the coexistence of Buddhist, Shaivite, and Vaishnavite traditions in the Deccan region's art.
• This is the first known monument in Telangana combining Buddhist, Vaishnavite, and Shaivite imagery on a single stone pillar.
• The discovery was made by history lecturer Roddavaru Prithviraj, and examined by historians Sriramoju Haragopal and Dr. E. Sivanagi Reddy.
• Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh is the historic site associated with the Mahaparinirvana (final passing) of Gautama Buddha.

Background & Context

In Buddhist tradition, Parinirvana refers to the Buddha’s final passing away after death, typically depicted in sculptures as a reclining figure lying on the right side, with the right hand supporting the head. Similar depictions are found across India, including stone reliefs and temple panels.

The Adilabad pillar’s combination of Buddhist, Vaishnavite, and Shaivite motifs reflects the religious pluralism and syncretism of the 10th century Deccan, where multiple faiths coexisted and influenced artistic expressions. Previously, Buddha Parinirvana sculptures have been recorded in Telangana, such as at the Bhimeshwara Temple in Vemulawada.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

This archaeological find provides tangible evidence of the medieval intermingling of Buddhist and Hindu traditions in the Deccan region, a subject relevant to Indian art history, cultural studies, and regional history questions in competitive exams. It highlights Telangana’s heritage and the layered nature of religious art, useful for UPSC, state civil service, and other history and culture-based examinations.

Points to Remember

• Buddha Parinirvana is iconographically depicted as a reclining figure on the right side, hand under the head, representing the final nirvana after death.
• The pillar was found in Bhimsari village, Adilabad district in June 2026 by history lecturer Roddavaru Prithviraj.
• It uniquely combines Buddhist, Vaishnavite (Vishnu Sayana Murti), Shaivite (Uma Lingana Murti), and a martial warrior figure on a single monument.
• Stylistic analysis dates the pillar to the 10th century CE, aligning with the known religious diversity of the era in the Deccan.
• The historic Buddha’s Mahaparinirvana site is Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, linking the pillar’s Buddhist imagery to pan-Indian traditions.
• First of its kind in Telangana to feature such diverse religious iconography together on a single stone pillar.