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Nicole's
Travelogues and Budget Travel Tips..
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SARNATH, INDIA
We took tuktuks from Varanasi to Sarnath (about 10 km). It took about 45 minutes through traffic and cost 250 Rs total for return trip - drivers waited for us in Sarnath.
The Sarnath site consists of the Dhamekh Stupa (the largest), ruins of monesteries and stupas, a museum, and a modern temple named Mulagandha Kuti Vihar. The grounds are gorgeous and peaceful, making it easy to spend a few hours there.
The entrance of the vihara, is dominated by a huge bell, a gift from Japan. Inside the temple was a fantastic life-size golden image of the Buddha. There is a small gift counter in the temple selling books and sandstone statues of the Buddha. I bought blessing and teaching Buddha statues for friends and family.
One fresco depicted the Legend of Angulimala. Legend has it that Angulimala was a dreaded dacoit of the region who used to wear a necklace of fingers chopped from his victims. One day, when he was about to kill his mother in a fit of rage, Lord Buddha met him. His words converted Angulimala who decide to follow the path of Buddhism.
The archeological museum at Sarnath houses a rich collection of sculptures comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisattva images. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm, and closed on Fridays. The Mahabodhi library here houses a rich collection of Buddhist manuscripts and writings. The Dhamekh Stupa signifies the "seat of the holy Buddha", as he proclaimed his faith. It is about 34 meters in height but including the foundations, it is 42 meters. Besides Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath also has the ruins of Dharmajajika Stupa and that of the original Mulgandha-kuti Temple. Buddha is said to have rested and meditated here while in Sarnath. Emperor Ashoka (273-232 B.C.) visited Sarnath and a smooth stone pillar, called the Ashoka Pillar, commemorates his visit. The Lion Capital on top of this pillar is now the National Emblem of India. The Chaukhandi Stupa was originally a terraced temple during the Gupta period (4th to 6th Centuries).
There weren't that many tourists at the site - which I thought was strange for July. But there were quite a few monks visiting the site, which only added to the spiritual atmosphere. Sarnath was a beautiful and relaxing day trip from the hustle bustle burning ghats of Varanasi! |
Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, a philosophy, and a life-enhancing system of psychology. Buddhism is also known in Sanskrit or Pali, the main ancient languages of Buddhists, as Buddha Dharma or Dhamma, which means the teachings of "the Awakened One". In Buddhism, any person who has awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" by directly realizing the true nature of reality is called a buddha.
Buddhists meditate on the Buddha as having nine characteristics: "The Blessed One is:
A common misconception among Westerners views Buddha as the Buddhist counterpart to “God”; Buddhism, however, is non-theistic (i.e., in general it does not teach the existence of a supreme creator god (see God in Buddhism) or depend on any supreme being for enlightenment; Buddha is a guide and teacher who points the way to nirvana). The commonly accepted definition of the term "God" describes a being that not only rules but actually created the universe (see origin belief). Such ideas and concepts are disputed by Buddha and Buddhists in many Buddhist discourses. In Buddhism, the supreme origin and creator of the universe is not a god, but Avidya (ignorance). Buddhists try to dispel this darkness through constant practice, compassion and wisdom (known as prajna).
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Sarnath marks the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon, taught his first disciples and introduced the world to his doctrine of peace. It is said that the Buddha came here to a tranquil shady forest teeming with deer and was persuaded by his followers to speak of his experiences after his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya (Bihar) and to set up the first Buddhist sangha or order. Its religious significance and association with the Buddha made Sarnath a popular pilgrim spot for more than a thousand years (third century BC to the thirteenth century). 
This modern Mulagandha Kuti Vihar temple was erected by the Mahabodhi Society in 1931. 
Inside the temple, there were also frescoes (several related paintings) painted by the Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu, depicting Buddha and his travels. The ancient Mulagandha Kuti Temple is among the brick ruins of Sarnath. 
There were Buddha sayings on plaques throughout the site. Unfortunately I am not THAT enlightened because many of the sayings went over my head! Hahahhah.
