Sarnath

Sàrnàth is a small village on the outer edge of the city of Vàrànasi in northern India and is the place where the Buddha first proclaimed his Dhamma to the world.

The name Sàrnàth is a recent one and is derived from the term ‘lord of the deer.’ At the time of the Buddha, the place was a wildlife reserve called Isipatana. In the centuries after the Buddha Sàrnàth grew into a great centre of culture and learning. Today the ruins of Sàrnàth cover a wide area and a museum on the site houses a large collection of artefacts found there.

It is considered on of the four most important places to visit for Buddhist pilgrimage.

References

• http://www.mahabodhitemple.com/
• Sarnath, V.S. Agrawala, 1992.