Sarnath is a famous place in Varanasi and it is the destination for cultures like Hindu, Buddha and Jain. Sarnath is the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma then Buddhist Sangha has originated as well as came into existence because of the enlightenment of Kondanna. It is situated atleast 13 Km to north-east of Varanasi. There is a village 1 km away from the Sarnath known as the Singhpur where Shreyansanath was born. He was known as the eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism. This is why the sarnath is also an important pilgrimage site for Jainism.

Sarnath History

Sarnath was an important spot in ancient India where holy men lived. After attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, Lord Buddha visited Sarnath to get back to his fellow monks in Sarnath. Buddha and preached five of his companions. This was his first ever sermon. Lord Buddha spend the next rainy season in Sarnath where the number of holy men gathering grew to 60. After Buddha, many elite monks lived in Sarnath. About 500 monks studied in Hinayana, a learning center in Sarnath.

In 389 BC, King Ashoka visited Sarnath where he built many stupas. He built a pillar which holds the emblem of the country. By the end of 3 AD, Sarnath became a center for art, culture and learning. By the end of 12th century, Turkish invaders ransacked the place, took away the building materials and destroyed many monuments.

Sarnath is also the birthplace of many Jain monks and 11th teerthankar. A 2200-year-old pillar stands in the place of kalyanak of Shri Shreyansnath Bhagwan.