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Situated 10 km from Varanasi is the site where Buddha
delivered his first sermon to his five disciples, preaching
the middle path for attaining 'Nirvana'. Realising the
sanctity of the site, emperor Ashoka, in the 3rd century B.C.
built some of the finest monuments and legacies.
Set in well maintained gardens Sarnath's ruins are a pleasant
place to stroll amongst or meditate in. The main things to see
are Asoka's pillar, the ruins of the Mulagandhakuti and the
huge Dharmek Stupa. Further to the east is the modern
Mulagandhakuti Vihara with its beautiful wall paintings and
behind it the Deer Park. The Sarnath Museum houses some of the
greatest treasures of Indian Buddhist art and should not be
missed. Asoka's lion capital and the beautiful Teaching Buddha
are amongst the most beautiful sculptures ever made.
History
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.
Pilgrimage Attractions at Sarnath
Dhamekha Stupa
This is the most conspicuous structure at Sarnath. Colonel
Cunningham bore a shaft from the top centre of the stupa and
discovered a stone tablet on which an inscription is written
with the word Dhamekha, and mentions 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. It is also said that at this spot the
five ascetics who left Gautama Buddha in Bodh Gaya used to
live in huts. 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.
The Dhamekha stupa is considered to be the sacred place where
the voice of Buddhism was first heard. Many dignitaries of
Buddhist countries visit this place for circumambulation of
this sacred stupa and to worship the Buddha. Tibetans Buddhist
circumambulate it chanting the mantra 'Om mani padme hum'. The
first discourse of the Buddha was on the 'Wheel of Law'. The
wheel symbolises samsara (world), the eternal round of
existence which goes on and on, life after life because of
ceaseless cravings and desire.
Choukhandi' Stupa
Raised by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1555 A.D., it is
believed to be the place where Buddha met his five disciples.
The majestic Ashoka pillar records visit of emperor Ashoka to
Sarnath. It was originally adorned by a capital of four lions,
now housed in the Sarnath museum. The capital became the state
emblem of modern India.
The Digambara Jain Temple
The Digambara Jain temple, southwest of the Dhamekh Stupa,
built in 1824, is said to be where Shreyanshnath, the 11th
Jain tirthankara was born. Inside the temple are good
frescoes, which depict the life of Mahavir, the founder of the
present day Jain religion.
Buddhist Temples
The Mulagandhakuti Vihara is a modern temple built by the
Mahabodhi Society in 1931. The silver casket in the temple is
said to have the original relics of the Buddha in it. It was
recovered from the ruins of the first century temple. The
temple has interesting murals depicting the life story of
Buddha. The murals were painted by a well-known Japanese
artist, Kosetsu Nosu, in 1936. Outside the temple is a bo tree
transplanted from Sri Lanka. It is said to be a descendant of
the original tree under which Buddha sat when he attained
enlightenment. There is a collection of rare Buddhist
literature here.
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 get there
Air Varanasi (Babatpur) Airport is the nearest airport.
Commercial flights connect Varanasi to Kathmandu, Delhi , Agra
and Mumbai.
Rail Varanasi railway station is well connected to
important cities.
Road It is located on the National Highway No. 29 that
also connects Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
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