Dharmek Stupa

Dhamek Stupa is located at Sarnath, 13 km away from Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It was built by the great Mauryan king Ashoka in 249 B.C., along with several other monuments, to commemorate his pilgrage there. It is said to mark the the spot where the Buddha gave his first historic sermon and set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma.^[1] Sarnath (formerly also Mrigadava, Rishipattana, Isipatana), located 13 kilometres from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded. ... VārāṇasÄ«   (DevanāgarÄ«: वाराणसी, IPA: ), also known as Benares, Banaras, or Benaras (बनारस, UrdÅ«: بنارس, ; IPA: ), or Kashi or Kasi (काशी ), is a famous Hindu holy city situated on the banks of the river Ganges (Ganga) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: اتر پردیش, IPA: ), also popularly known by its abbreviation U.P., is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Union of India. ... The Mauryan empire (321 to 185 BCE), at its largest extent around 230 BCE. The Mauryan empire was Indias first great unified empire. ... Emperor Ashoka (a possible depiction) Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक; IAST transliteration: ) (304 BC–232 BC) was the emperor of the Maurya Empire from 273 BC to 232 BC. After a number of military conquests, Ashoka reigned over most of South Asia and beyond, from present-day Afghanistan and parts of... A stone image of the Buddha. ... The word dharma (Sanskrit; धर्म in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. ...

Design

The stupa is cylindrical in form, a 30 meters high tower solidly built of bricks and stone. The stone facing the lower part is chiseled with delicate floral carvings of Gupta origin. The borders of exquisitely carved figures of humans and birds.^[2] Stupa at Samye Ling Monastery, Scotland A stupa (from the Sanskrit) is a type of Buddhist structure found across the Indian subcontinent, Asia and increasingly in the Western World. ... The contribution of the Maurya and the Gupta Empire to the Indian culture and philosophy was enormous. ...

References

1. ^ Place of the Buddha’s First Sermon. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
2. ^ Dhamekh Stupa. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ...

External links

• Dhamek Stupa
• Place of the Buddha’s First Sermon
• Sarnath
• Photos
• Sarnath Places of Interest