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Sarnath in India
SARNATH
FACTS & FIGURES
Location:
13 kilometres
north-east of Varanasi,
Uttar Pradesh, India.
Best time
to Visit:
Throughout the year
Significance:
Here Buddha delivered
his first sermon,
Dhamekha Stupa,
Ashoka Pillar.
Sarnath (also Mrigadava,
Migadaya, Rishipattana,
Isipatana) is the
deer park where
Gautama
Buddha first
taught the Dharma,
and where the Buddhist
Sangha came into
existence through
the enlightenment
of Kondanna.
Sarnath is, perhaps,
the naturally most
beautiful Buddhist
pilgrimage, with
a calm and cool
atmosphere that
silently preaches
tranquility and
peace.
Lord Buddha had
visited Sarnath
looking for his
five companions
who abandoned him
in Rajgir while
they deviated from
the viewpoint of
Lord Buddha on self-mortification.
The Past
The
earliest remains
here at Sarnath
are from the Mauryan
period ascribed
to Emperor Ashoka
the great. The Lion
Capital is the national
emblem of India.
The Dharmarajika
Stupa was built
by Ashoka,
and it was expanded
and enlarged several
times upto the 12th
century CE. The
structures here
were destroyed by
repeated invasions
- and by gradual
neglect - and what
are seen today are
the results of repeated
reconstruction efforts.
The Dhamekh stupa
is a cylindrical
tower, 143 feet
high, and 93 feet
high. The stones
in each layer were
bound together by
iron clamps. This
tower dates back
to the Gupta period.
The Chinese traveller
Hsuen Tsang
who visited India
in the 7th century
CE, speaks
of the glory of
Sarnath and of the
structures
that existed then.
Pilgrim/Tourist
Attractions in Sarnath
DHAMEKHA
STUPA
The
stupa is the most
impressive structure
in Sarnath. From
the top of the stupa
a stone tablet with
an inscription “Dharmekha”
was found which
points out that
this is the spot
where the Buddha
delivered his first
sermon. Dhamekha
seems to be a distorted
form of Dharma Chakra
which means turning
the wheel of the
Dharma. The original
stupa was constructed
by Ashoka.
The present size
of the stupa is
31.3 m high
and 28.3 m
in diameter. The
lower portion of
the stupa is covered
completely with
beautifully carved
stones.
Dhamekha is believed
to be the sacred
place where the
voice of
Buddhism was first
heard.
ASHOK
PILLAR
This
Pillar is the national
emblem of India,
presents a splendid
represntation of
Art during Ashoka's
period, and the
Asoka Wheel down
the base adorns
the Tricolour national
flag. This pillar
records the visit
of Emperor Ashoka
to Sarnath, in the
3rd century BC.
The lion symbolises
both Ashoks's imperial
rule and the kingship
of the Buddha. The
four-lion capital
was adopted as the
emblem of the modern
Indian republic.
CHOUKHANDI
STUPA
The
brick remains of
the Stupa, dates
from the Gupta period,
and is said to be
the site, where
the Buddha was reunited
with his five disciples,
who had previously
deserted him. Standing
on a terraced rectangular
plinth, the Stupa
is capped by an
octagonal Moghul
tower, built by
Emperor Akbar to
commemorate his
father's visit to
the place.
MULAGANDHA KUTI
VIHAR
This
is a modern temple
built by the Mahabodhi
society in 1931.
The entrance of
the vihara, is dominated
by a huge bell,
a gift from Japan,
and the interior
contains a beautiful
life-size golden
image of the Buddha,
and colourful murals
and frescoes painted
by a Japanese artist
Kosetsu Nosu. One
can also see the
bodhi tree whose
sapling was brought
from a tree in Sri
Lanka, which in
turn originated
from the original
tree under which
Buddha sat in Bodh
Gaya and gained
enlightenment 2,500
years ago.
Festivals
The
full moon day of
Vaisakha (April-May)
is observed as the
anniversary
of Buddha's birth,
enlightenment,
and death.
The full
moon in the month
of Asadh
(July-August) is
considered the anniversary
of his first sermon.
How
to Reach Sarnath
•
Air: Varanasi
is the nearest airport,
at a distance of
10 km from Sarnath.
•
Rail:
Varanasi
is a major station
in Broad gauge network
and is well connected
to most of the stations
of India.
•
Road:
Well-laid motorable
roads connect Sarnath
with varanasi and
other important
cities.
