are a few literary traditions about the presence of in Andhra Pradesh during pre-Mauryan The famous Buddhist sites of Amaravati and are associated with Buddha, as a of one of the previous births of Buddha and a site of Buddha respectively. and Dharanikota, both formed part of Dhanyakataka, the capital of later the spread of Buddhism to different parts of the many sects appeared. For example, the had their centre of activity at Kausambi; was the centre for the Sarvastivadins; and the Yanika sect flourished at Nasik and Kanheri. origin of these sects may not have been originally to differences in the doctrines. In fact, what to their origin and growth were factors to geographical diversities of the country, of various communities at the local levels and lack of coordination between the various of the sects. Under the Satavahavas,the (Amaravati) region became the most stronghold of Mahayana Buddhism whereas Sthaviravadins were popular in the north. option (a) is the correct answer.