Why in news?  The Phanigiri artefacts, belonging to 200 BCE-400 CE was discovered in 1942, and are now on display at New York Metropolitan Museum of Art

Highlights:

• The display in the exhibition is about “The Tree and Serpent”
• The thoranas discovered at Phanigiri are very important as they are among the first found south of Sanchi.

What is the significance of Phanigiri Thoranas ?

• The thorana has a panel that shows both Mahayana and Hinayana school of thought, despite philosophical differences, both the sects co-existed in Phanigiri
• There is evidence from Phanigiri that shows the deification of Buddha, and transition of historical and spiritual identity
• It focuses on the early Buddhist art of Southern India and the monograph of the event has the image of the Buddha, wearing like a Roman toga with folds, carved in limestone

About Phanigiri artefacts

• It is a Buddhist site in Suryapet district, Telangana
• Site is closely related to the stupa complexes at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda.
• The place houses three viharas that once served as the dwelling for the Buddhist monks