Varanasi – This is a holy land dedicated to Lord Mahadev.
According to Hindu religious texts – for the benefit of salvation – since ages pilgrims come here – to take a dip in the Ganga – and to pay obeisance at the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
But about two and a half (2500) thousand years ago, a Hindu prince also came here – but the reason for his visit was something different
That prince of the Sakyo clan was known as Siddhartha Gautam.
For the welfare of the world – a few days after attaining enlightenment, he came here to preach to his disciples – it is believed that Sarnath is the ancient place where Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon to his five disciples – which is also known as Dharma Chakra Pravartan Sutra.
Sarnath is one of the most important, sacred and famous religious as well as pilgrimage place for the Buddhist World and as this is well known that this place is directly associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha From this place Lord Buddha has started the journey of Dhamma by giving his first sermon in C 528 B.C.E.
Sarnath (Lat.25022’ N , Log.8300’ E) is located on the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway, at a distance of about 10 kms Towards north-east from Varanasi Railway station and is only 23 kms away from LalBahadur Shastri Air Port, Babatpur, Varanasi.
Sarnath Circle, the 27th Circle of Archaeological Survey of India was established on 2 September 2013 (vide no. 4-2/2013-Plg) by joining together some parts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh of Patna Circle and some of Lucknow Circle. Total 142 monuments are under the control of this circle which falls in many districts of the eastern Uttar Pradesh. The districts are Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Ballia, Chandauli, Deoria, Faizabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Mahrajganj (Previously in Gorakhpur Distt.), Jaunpur, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Mau, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Sonbhadra, Sant Kabeer Nager, Sultanpur, Varanasi.(@uniquejournal)
