Sarnath
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Sarnath
Ancient remains in the District and tahsil of Benares, United Provinces, situated in 25 23' N. and 83 2' E., about 3-^ miles north of Benares city. The most imposing building is a large stone st'upa, 93 feet in diameter at the base and no feet high above the surrounding ruins, which are themselves 18 feet above the general level of the country. The lower part has eight projecting faces, all but one of which are richly carved; the upper portion is built of bricks and was probably plastered. Half a mile away ib another stupa composed of bricks, which is now surmounted by a tower with an inscription recording its ascent by the emperor Humayun. The space between the two stupas is thickly strewn with brick and stone debris.
Excavations have shown that these ruins mark the site of a huge monastery. In 1905 new inscriptions of Asoka and Kanishka were discovered. A Jain temple now stands close to the stone stupa, and a short distance away is a lake with a Hindu temple on its bank. Sarnath is identified with the Mrigadava or deer-park, in which Gautama Buddha first preached his doctrines, and near which was situated the Isipattana monastery.
[Rev. M. A. Sherring, The Sacred City oj the Hindus^ chap, xviii.]
