Sarnath site

Context:

India has officially nominated Sarnath for the UNESCO world heritage list for the 2025-26 cycle. So, the UNESCO team is about to visit the site and as a matter of preparation for it, the Archaeological survey of India (ASI) is installing what it calls a corrected plaque that will credit a local ruler and not the British, for preserving the holy Buddhist site.

UPSC Relevance:

Art and culture including architectural marvels of Indian history.

UPSC PYQ:

Q. Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO: ( 2024)

1. Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas 
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya 

How many of the above properties were included in 2023? 

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) Only three 

(d) All four 

Introduction:

• Sarnath is a prominent buddhist pilgrimage site close to Varanasi at the confluence of river ganga and varuna. Here, Buddha gave his first sermon and formed the first Buddhist Sangha.
• It was invaded, destroyed and demolished over the years however still many artefacts of cultural importance like the Lion capital of Ashoka are found here. Famous stupas here are Chaukhandi stupa and Dhamek stupa.  
• Sarnath is remembered as the location for delivery of Buddha’s first sermon in 528 BC, known as the “turning the wheel of law” or traditionally called “Dharma-chakra-pravartana”. Here, he talked about the four noble truths to his five companions or disciples namely Kaudinya, Bhadrika, Vashpa, Mahanaman, Ashvajit. Together they formed a “sangha’ or a community of spiritual seekers.
• The most significant work on Sarnath was carried out by archaeologist Friedrich Oertel in 1904-05

Art and Architectural element related to Sarnath:

• Ashokan Pillar: the famous four-faced lion-headed capital pillar was found at Sarnath and dates back to 250 BC. It is now a prominent part of the National emblem of India showing the horse on the left and bull on the right of the Ashoka Chakra in the circular base on which the four Indian lions are standing back-to-back.
• Dhamek Stupa: it marks the precise location at which Buddha’s first sermon was delivered. It is built in a unique Gupta style of architecture characterized by the use of cream -coloured sandstone and metal.
• Chaukhandi stupa: It is an ancient Buddhist site. Later, an octagonal tower was built to commemorate Humayun’s visit to Sarnath.
• Lalitvistara sutra: It is a Mahayana Buddhist text containing stories about the life of Buddha and his first sermon at Sarnath.
• Mahaparinibbana Sutta: Buddha called Sarnath one of the four places of pilgrimage for Buddhists apart from Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar.
• Sarnath Museum is the oldest site of Archaeological survey of India setup in 1910. It houses the Lion capital of Ashoka.

Significant visitors to Sarnath:

• British Colonial explorers like Alexander Cunningham, Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and Colin Mackenzie also visited the for exploration and excavation.
• Fa-Hein visited the Sarnath site during Gupta era and recorded it in writing in his book “Record of Buddhist Kingdoms”.
• Hieun Tsang visited the Sarnath site during the reign of Harsha, recording it in his book “Buddhist record of the western”. He mentioned that many priests, small shrines and stupas dotted the Sarnath landscape.
• Qutbuddin Aibak raided and looted Sarnath. This led to large scale exodus of Buddhist monks from Sarnath.