PLace of interest
MULAGANDHA KUTI VIHARA TEMPLE
'Mulagandhakuti Vihara' or the modern Buddhist temple is 110 feet high with an image of Buddha inside it. Buddhist relics discovered at Taxila are enshrined in this 'Mulagandhkuti Vihara'. There are also fine paintings on the walls of this temple by Japanese artist Kosetsu Nosu. Buddhist services are conducted there.There is a carved sandstone railing inside the temple. In the Mulagandhakuti Vihara there also is a Buddha walk. The ancient Mulagandha Kuti Temple is among the brick ruins of Sarnath
CHAUKHANDI STUPA
Chaukhandi Stupa is the place where the Buddha first met his 5 companions at Sarnath. It is situated 13 kilometers away from Varanasi, is said to be built originally as a terraced temple in 4th to 6th century during the Gupta period. The Chaukhandi Stupa is a brick structure crowned with an octagonal tower.
According to the famous Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang, this was the tallest stupa at that time in the region.
DHAMEKHA STUPA
The most remarkable structure at Sarnath, is the cylindrical Dhamek stupa, 28 mts. in diameter at the base and 43.6 mts. in height, built party of stone and partly of brick.Lord Buddha delivered the first discourse of his Dhamma and the famous eight-fold path at a deer park in Sarnath.
There are 8 niches in the stupa, which might have contained images of the Buddha. There is a broad strip of just below the niches that has beautifully carved designs like geometrical patterns, leaves, flowers, animals, swastikas, human figures etc.
STATUE OF STANDING BUDDHA
One of the main attractions of Sarnath is the 80 ft high statue of Buddha. It isIndia’s tallest standing statue of Lord Buddha. It took 14 years to contruct this statue. The work on the statue was started in 1997 and it was unveiled in 2011. This standing statue of Buddha is located on the premises of Thai Buddha Vihar in Sarnath.
This 80-ft Buddha statue made from sandstone is a result of joint efforts betweenIndiaandThailand. The standing statue of Lord Buddha is built over an area of 2.5 acre inside the premises of Thai Buddha Vihar (earlier known as Mrigdayavan Mahavihar Society).
DEER PARK
Deer Park, behind the modern Mulagandhakuti Viharawhich is maintained as an open animal park and still attracts deer.
TIBETAN TEMPLE
Tibetan Temple is a beautiful Buddhist shrine located at Sarnath. This is a traditional style temple and enshrines the beautiful statue of Shakyamuni, the Buddha. The walls and sealing are decorated with Thangksa (Tibetan Buddhist paintings) and frescoes.
A major attraction of this temple is the Prayer wheels, which are seen outside the temple building, usually contain paper scrolls with prayers or mantras written on them. When the prayer wheels are rotated clockwise, the papers are released. It is assumed that the life will be blessed if you visit this temple with piety.
SARNATH ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
The Sarnath Archaeological Museum houses the famous Ashokan Lion Capital, which miraculously survived its 45-foot drop to the ground (from the top of the Ashokan Pillar), and became the National Emblem of India and national symbol on the Indian flag. The museum also houses a famous and refined Buddha-image of the Buddha in Dharmachakra-posture.
JAIN TEMPLE
A Jain temple is the place of worship for Jains, the followers of Jainism, Derasar is a word used for a Jain temple across India including Rajasthan. Basadi is a Jain shrine or temple. The word is generally used in South India, including Maharashtra. Its historical use in North is preserved in the names of the Vimala Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples of Mount Abu. The Sanskrit word is vasati, it implies an institution including residences of scholars attached to the shrine.
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