Buddhism originated and developed in eastern India but did not expand significantly to other parts of the subcontinent until the 3rd century BC. The Andhra region – located along the south-east coast of India – welcomed Buddhism. The religion gained its first foothold at Amarāvatī where a monumental stūpa (Buddhist temple) was constructed, probably to house a relic of the Buddha from north India.

The first stūpa at Amarāvatī can be dated to the time of the Mauryan dynasty (around 310-185 BC). Soon after its foundation, significant stūpas were also built at other sites such as Bhattiprolu and Jaggayapeta. Buddhist monasteries were constructed beside these stūpas and eventually more than seventy Buddhist houses were established, especially along the Godāvarī and Krishna rivers.

The early stūpa at Amarāvatī began to be embellished in the 2nd century BC when decorative slabs carved with narrative scenes were added to exterior and the whole monument surrounded by a limestone railing carved with lotus medallions and demi-gods carrying garlands. Free-standing pillars were erected beside the entrances and were carved with Buddhist emblems: the Bodhi tree, the wheel of Dharma, the stūpa and the lion. The lion is regarded as a symbol of the Buddha, one of his epithets being ‘the lion of the Śakya clan’.