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Sarnath

File:Ancient_Buddhist_monasteries_near_Dhamekh_Stupa_Monument_Site,_Sarnath.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Sarnath (also known as Deer Park, Sarangnath, Isipatana Deer Park, Rishipattana, Migadaya, or Mrigadava) is a town northeast of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, India. As the Lalitavistara sutra states, the Gautama Buddha chose "Deer Park by the Hill of the Fallen Sages, outside of Varanasi" for his first teaching after he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. The teaching is entitled Dhammacakkappavattana sutra. Sarnath is one of the eight most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, and has been nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

AI overview

Sarnath is a town near Varanasi in India where the Buddha delivered his first teaching after achieving enlightenment, an event of central importance to Buddhist history and practice. It remains one of Buddhism's eight most significant pilgrimage destinations and has been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Settlement.name
Sarnath
Settlement.settlement_type
Town
Settlement.image_skyline
Ancient Buddhist monasteries near Dhamekh Stupa Monument Site, Sarnath.jpg
Settlement.image_caption
View of Sarnath, looking from the ancient Mulagandha Kuty Vihara towards the Dhamek Stupa
Settlement.pushpin_map
India#India Uttar Pradesh
Settlement.pushpin_relief
yes
Settlement.pushpin_label_position
left
Settlement.subdivision_type
Country
Settlement.subdivision_type1
State
Settlement.subdivision_name1
Uttar Pradesh
Settlement.subdivision_type2
District
Settlement.subdivision_name2
Varanasi
Settlement.unit_pref
Metric
Settlement.population_total
11000
Settlement.population_as_of
2019
Settlement.population_density_km2
auto
Settlement.demographics_type1
Languages
Settlement.demographics1_title1
Local

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

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Sarnath1.jpg
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Sarnath
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Sarnath
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~27 min read

Article

19 sections
Contents
  • Etymology
  • History
  • 5th century BCE – 6th century CE
  • 6th – 8th centuries CE
  • 8th – 12th centuries CE
  • Late 12th century: the destruction of Sarnath
  • 18th century: rediscovery and looting
  • 19th century: more looting and early archeological excavations
  • 20th century: extensive excavations and restoration
  • Present day
  • Modern places of worship
  • As a Jain pilgrimage site
  • Other tourist attractions
  • In English literature
  • Gallery
  • Footnotes
  • References
  • Cited works
  • External links

Sarnath (also known as Deer Park, Sarangnath, Isipatana Deer Park, Rishipattana, Migadaya, or Mrigadava) is a town northeast of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh, India. As the Lalitavistara sutra states, the Gautama Buddha chose "Deer Park by the Hill of the Fallen Sages, outside of Varanasi" for his first teaching after he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. The teaching is entitled Dhammacakkappavattana sutra. Sarnath is one of the eight most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, and has been nominated to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha's sangha first convened, when he gave the first teaching to his original five disciples Kaundinya, Assaji, Bhaddiya, Vappa and Mahanama, known as The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. This teaching occurred circa 528 BCE when the Buddha was approximately 35 years of age.

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