Sarnath is the place where buddha gave his first sermon. Its is also Called as dhamma chakra Parivartan. He gave this dhamma to the first 5 disciples after attaining the enlightenment in Bodhgaya. Those first 5 students were who learned the dhamma from the buddha himself and became Arhants. They are kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji.
This Site comes under the UNESCO world heritage site. This place also comes in those 4 places which one must visit atleast once in life time. The other three are bodhgaya (where buddha was born), lumbini (buddha’s birth place), kushinagar (buddha’s death place).
An interesting story here, this place where buddha gave his first sermon is also called as the deer park. why deer park? According to the history of local kings, the king was out for hunting. When he reached this place, he saw two deers, one was male and one was female. The king was about to kill the female deer, but the male deer sacrificed his life to save the female deer. Seeing his love for the female deer, the king announced this place the deer park, And that deer was the buddha in one of his previous life.
There are a lot of places to visit in Sarnath.
1. The Chaukhandi stupa. This stupa was made as a mark to show that the buddha gave his first sermon here, after he travelled from bodhgaya to sarnath after enlightenment. As these first 5 students of buddha were Kondanna, bhaddiya, vappa, assaji, Mahanama. When buddha gave his first sermon, kondanna was the first person who entered the stream – enterer, the first stage also known as sotapanna. he attained the first stage as soon as buddha gave the dhammachakkapavatanna sutta. when kondanna
attained the stage, buddha knew that and ”Annasi Vata Bho Kondanno” – means – ”Indeed Kondanna has understood”. After some days, The buddha gave the second sermon, this Second sermon was on the concept of Annata (non – self). This teaching was more deeper and more eyes opening. This led to the rest of the other four and including the kondanna attaining the Enlightenment.
3. Dhamek Stupa.
4. Ashoka Pillar
