Designs & Kapil: March 2010

Saarnath, is located just 12 kms from the Hindu holi city of Varanasi, is the site of the deer park where Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon.

Sarnath is one of fout holy buddhist sites sanctioned by the Buddha himself for pilgrimage. The other three sites are: Lumbini (Birth); Bodh Gaya (Enlightment) and Kushinagar (Death).

Sarnath has also been called Mrigadava, meaning "Deer Park," and Isipatana, meaning the place where holy men fell to death. The latter name is based in the legend that when the Buddha was born, devas came down to announce it to 500 holi men. The holy men all rose into the air and disappeared, and their relics fell to ground.

The current name sarnath, from Saranganath, means "Lord if the Deer" and relates to another old buddhist story in which the Bodhisatta is a deer and offers his life to king instead of the doe he is planning to kill. The king is so moved that he creates the park as a sanctuary for deer.

This mulagandha Kuti vihara temple is 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. The murals were painted by the well-known Japenese artist, Kosetsu Nosu in 1936.

Holi bell in temple which is gifted to temple by Srilankan people.

This is Bodhi tree transplated by Srilankans. It is supposed to said that buddha preached his first sermon to his first five disciples in this pose.

Inside view of the temple

Wall painting inside temple

Dhamekh Stupa : Dhamekh Stupa was constructed by the great Mauryan king, Ashoka.Made of stone and bricks, this is a huge monument. Carving of geometrical and floral designs shows a rare skill. This structure was installed by King Ashoka. It is solid from inside. It is belived that buddha preached his first sermon at this place, so stupa commemorates this occasion. This also contains the relics of Mahatma Buddha.