Vijayapuri—the Capital of Iksvakus of Nagarjunakonda
By Karthikeya Sharma
Summary
Focusing on Nagarjunakonda in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, this study reconstructs Vijayapuri, capital of the Iksvaku dynasty, through archaeological and epigraphic evidence. The site gained prominence when statuary was found in 1926; excavations by Longhurst (1927–31) and Ramachandran (1938) exposed Buddhist monuments and inscriptions. Renewed excavations in the 1950s under R. Subrahmanyam revealed the complete layout of a large fortified city identified by inscriptions as Vijayapuri. An apsidal temple inscription on Sriparvata and pillar inscriptions from nearby stupas repeatedly name Vijayapuri, showing that the entire area was so called in the third and fourth centuries. The citadel’s plan—a trapezoidal enclosure roughly 3,000 × 2,000 feet—is described in detail: thick brick walls with bastions, a ditch filled with water, gates, barracks and residential quarters. Outside the fort lay Buddhist stupas, monasteries, wells, a large oblong structure interpreted as a stadium, ritual tanks like the Avabritha and Kurma‑citi, and pleasure palaces, all pointing to a flourishing urban centre. Epigraphic evidence from Amaravati and other sites mentions merchants and donors from Vijayapuri, confirming its importance. The article observes that features such as the stadium resemble Roman amphitheatres and that the city’s prosperity was linked to riverine trade on the Krishna and contacts with Ceylon, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. By integrating textual references with excavation reports, the study portrays Vijayapuri as both political capital and religious hub where Buddhism, Hinduism and foreign influences coexisted. The findings emphasise the Iksvakus’ role in Deccan history and illustrate advanced urban planning in early third‑century India.
Conclusion
The distinctive conclusion drawn from the study of Vijayapuri, the capital of the Iksvaku dynasty at Nagarjunakonda, emphasizes its significance as a flourishing political and cultural center during the early 3rd and 4th centuries CE. Excavations reveal a fortified city with sophisticated urban planning, monumental religious architecture including Buddhist monasteries and Brahmanical temples, and evidence of vibrant cultural exchanges reflected in foreign architectural styles and artifacts. The dynasty exemplified religious plurality, with kings adhering to Brahmanism while royal women patronized Buddhism, fostering a tolerant and eclectic religious landscape. The city’s well-connected river port underpinned its role as an important hub for trade, pilgrimage, and scholarly activity linked to wider South Asian and Roman worlds. The archaeological and epigraphic data reaffirms the Iksvaku dynasty's historical prominence until their decline under the Pallavas, marking Vijayapuri as a remarkable repository of early Indian civilization deserving continued scholarly attention.