The king was so moved that he created the park as a deer sanctuary. The term for "deer park" is Mriga-dāva in Sanskrit, or Miga-dāya in the Pali language.
Although the Gahadavala kings were Hindu, they were tolerant of Buddhism. Inscriptions unearthed at Sarnath in the early 20th century indicate that some of the monasteries there enjoyed royal patronage from the Gahadavala rulers. For example, in a mid-12th-century inscription attributed to Queen Kumaradevi (consort of King Govindachandra) and member of the Pithipati dynasty of Bodh Gaya. She takes credit for the construction or restoration of a living quarters for monks.
It is widely asserted that the structure referred to in the Kumaradevi inscription is the Dharma Chakra Jina Vihar, but the evidence for this is inconclusive. Whatever the case, it is likely to be among the last structures to be built at Sarnath prior to its destruction in 1194. The inscription, excavated at Sarnath in March 1908, is currently maintained at the Sarnath Archeological Museum.
Qutbuddin Aibek reportedly carted away some 1400 camel loads of treasure. According to the 13th-century Persian historian Hasan Nizami, "nearly 1000 temples were destroyed and mosques were raised on their foundations, the Rais and chiefs of Hind came forward to proffer their allegiance [to the Ghurids]".
However, according to some scholars, fresh re-assesments of evidence from archaeology in addition to historical records have disputed this view of Muslim invasions as the major cause of the decline of Buddhism in India or the destruction of such Buddhist sites as Sarnath — arguing, instead, "that Brahmanical hostility toward Buddhists resulted in the destruction of Sarnath and other sites". According to archaeologist Giovanni Verardi: "Contrary to what is usually believed, the great monasteries of Gangetic India, from Sarnath to Vikramaśīla, from Odantapurī to Nālandā, were not destroyed by the Muslims, but appropriated and transformed by the Brahmans with only the occasional intervention of the Muslim forces". According to Verardi, "orthodox" Brahmins — who had been gaining in power and influence during the Gahadavala and Sena dynasties, the rival Hindu-revivalist dynasties of northern/eastern India — "accepted Muslim rule in exchange for the extirpation of Buddhism and the repression of the social sectors in revolt." Archaeologist Federica Barba writes that the Gahadavalas built large Hindu temples in traditional Buddhist sites such as Sarnath, and converted Buddhist shrines into Brahmanical ones: Evidence indicates that Buddhists had been expelled from Sarnath during the mid 12th-century, under the Gahadavala rule, and it already was in the process of being converted to a large Shiva temple compound before Muslim invaders arrived.
India experienced an increase in visitation by European people in the late 18th century. In 1778, William Hodges became possibly the first British landscape painter to visit India. While there, he made careful observations of the art and architecture he encountered. He published an illustrated book about his travels in India in 1794. In his book, he described mosques and other Islamic architecture, Hindu temples, and Greek-inspired columns. Hodges also briefly described the Dhamek Stupa, although he mistook it to be a ruined Hindu temple.
The reliquary contained a few bones and some pearls, which were subsequently thrown into the Ganges river. The reliquary itself has also disappeared, although the outer sandstone box was replaced in the relic chamber, where it was rediscovered by Cunningham in 1835. The bricks of the stupa were hauled off and used for the construction of the market in Jagatganj, Varanasi. Jagat Singh and his crew also removed a large part of the facing of the Dhamek Stupa, and removed several Buddha statues which he retained at his house in Jagatganj.
In 1851–1852, Markham Kittoe (1808–1853) conducted further excavations at Sarnath. Kittoe noted the presence of four stupas at Sarnath and excavated a structure he described as a hospital, which was located roughly midway between the Dhamek and Jagat Singh stupas. He also recovered a seated Buddha statue from Jagat Singh's house and transcribed its inscription. In his writings, Kittoe speculated that Sarnath was destroyed as a result of a great fire.
Sometime in the mid-19th century, Sarnath was subjected to further depredations, as 48 statues and a tremendous amount of bricks and stones were removed from the historic site to be used in the construction of two bridges over the Varuna River. A final instance of despoilation occurred around 1898, when many bricks and stones were removed from Sarnath and used as ballast for a narrow-gauge railway that was under construction at that time.
In addition to the archaeological ruins, there are a number of other pilgrimage sites and places of worship in Sarnath. Among these are included:
Singhpur (Simhapuri), a village approximately 1.7 kilometres (1 mile) northwest of Sarnath, is believed to be the birthplace of Shreyansanatha, the 11th tirthankara of Jainism. It is also the place where four of the five auspicious life events of Shreyansanatha took place. According to Jain cosmology, the fifth auspicious life event is the attainment of moksha. Shreyansanatha was among the twenty Jain tirthankaras who attained moksha in Sametshikhar.
Tourist attractions unrelated to Buddhism and spirituality in Sarnath include the Sarnath Deer Park and Fish Canal, and the Sarnath Turtle Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre.
Tourist arrival in Sarnath
Samye Translations, "Sarnath: The First Turning of the Dharma Wheel", Nekhor: Circling the Sacred
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Samye Translations, "Sarnath: The First Turning of the Dharma Wheel", Nekhor: Circling the Sacred
Samye Translations, "Sarnath: The First Turning of the Dharma Wheel", Nekhor: Circling the Sacred
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Schumann 2004, p. 67. - Schumann, Hans Wolfgang (2004). The Historical Buddha: The Times, Life, and Teachings of the Founder of Buddhism. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 8120818172. https://books.google.com/books?id=h2Qh2zzNkNkC
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Sahni 1914, p. 1. - Sahni, Daya Ram (1914). Catalogue of the Museum of Archaeology at Sarnath (PDF). Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. https://www.indianculture.gov.in/system/files/digitalFilesICWeb/ICrarebooks/igncarepository/254/ignca-839-rb.pdf
Sarao 2017, p. 581. - Sarao, Karam Tej Singh (2017). "Isipatana". In Long, Jeffery D. (ed.). Buddhism and Jainism. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Springer. p. 581. doi:10.1007/978-94-024-0852-2_100384. ISBN 978-9402408515. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0852-2_100384
Asher 2020, p. 1. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Oertel 1908, pp. 60–61. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Li 1914, pp. 98–100. - Li, Hwui (1914). The Life of Hiuen-Tsiang. Vol. Book III. Translated by Beal, Samuel (2nd ed.). London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Company. https://archive.org/details/lifeofhiuentsian030569mbp/page/n151/mode/2up
Asher 2020, p. 9. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Konow 1908, pp. 320, 327–8. - Konow, Sten (1908). "Sarnath Inscription of Kumaradevi". Epigraphica Indica. 9 (51): 319–28. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.48794/page/n431/mode/2up
Asher 2020, pp. 6–8. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Konow 1908, p. 319. - Konow, Sten (1908). "Sarnath Inscription of Kumaradevi". Epigraphica Indica. 9 (51): 319–28. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.48794/page/n431/mode/2up
Archaeological Survey of India (2013). "Accession Number: 33 (Kumaradevi inscription)". Archaeological Museum Sarnath. Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Archaeological Survey of India - Sarnath Circle. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023. /wiki/Archaeological_Survey_of_India
Turushka is a word for "Muslim Turkish Mercenaries".
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Konow 1908, pp. 321, 327. - Konow, Sten (1908). "Sarnath Inscription of Kumaradevi". Epigraphica Indica. 9 (51): 319–28. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.48794/page/n431/mode/2up
Verardi 2011. - Verardi, Giovanni (2011). Hardships and Downfall of Buddhism in India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-928-6.
Habib 1981, p. 116 Quote: "In the winter of A.D. 1194-1195 Shihabuddin once more marched into Hindustan and invaded the Doab. Rai Jai Chand moved forward to meet him and came face to face with Qutbuddin Aibek, who was leading the vanguard of the invading army.... Shihabuddin captured the treasure fort of Asni and then proceeded to Banares, where he converted about a thousand idol-temples into houses for the Musalmans". - Habib, Mohammad (1981). Nizami, Khaliq Ahmad (ed.). Politics and Society During the Early Medieval Period: Collected Works of Professor Mohammad Habib. Vol. 2. New Delhi: People's Publishing House. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.99172/page/n145/mode/2up
Chandra 2007 Quote: "In 1194, Muizzuddin returned to India. He crossed the Jamuna with 50,000 cavalry and moved towards Kanauj. A hotly contested battle between Muizzuddin and Jaichandra was fought at Chandawar near Kanauj. We are told that Jaichandra had almost carried the day when he was killed by an arrow, and his army was totally defeated. Muizzuddin now moved on to Banaras which was ravaged, a large number of temples there being destroyed". - Chandra, Satish (2007). History of Medieval India: 800-1700 (PDF). Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan. ISBN 978-9352874576. https://www.magadhuniversity.ac.in/download/econtent/pdf/Satish%20Chandra%20-%20History%20of%20Medieval%20India%20(2018,%20Orient%20Blackswan)%20-%20libgen.lc.pdf
Khan 2008, p. 80 Quote: "Jaichandra was defeated and killed by Muhammad Ghauri at Chanwar (40 kilometers east of Agra) in 1193". - Khan, Iqtidar Alam (2008). Historical Dictionary of Medieval India. Historical Dictionaries of Ancient Civilizations and Historical Eras. Vol. 20. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0810855038.
Asher 2020, p. 11. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Niyogi 1959, p. 111. - Niyogi, Roma (1959). The History of the Gāhadavāla Dynasty. Kolkata: Calcutta Oriental Book Agency. https://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/history-gahadavala-dynasty
Meston 1915, p. 169. - Meston, James (1915). "India". Hutchinson's Story of the Nations. London: Hutchison & Co. pp. 123–222. https://archive.org/details/hutchinsonsstory00londuoft/page/169/mode/1up
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Verardi 2011. - Verardi, Giovanni (2011). Hardships and Downfall of Buddhism in India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-928-6.
Auer & Strauch 2019. - Auer, Blain; Strauch, Ingo (19 August 2019). Encountering Buddhism and Islam in Premodern Central and South Asia. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. ISBN 978-3-11-062986-6.
Asher 2020, p. 11. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Verardi 2011. - Verardi, Giovanni (2011). Hardships and Downfall of Buddhism in India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-928-6.
Verardi 2011. - Verardi, Giovanni (2011). Hardships and Downfall of Buddhism in India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-928-6.
Barba, Federica (2011). "Appendix 2, Sarnath: A Reassessment of the Archaeological Evidence with Particular Reference to the Final Phase of the Site". In Verardi, Giovanni (ed.). Hardships and Downfall of Buddhism in India. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-928-6. 978-81-7304-928-6
Asher 2020, p. 11. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Asher 2020, pp. 21–22. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Oertel 1908, p. 60. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Pran Nevile (3 May 2009). "India's past on canvas". The Tribune. Chandigarh: Tribune Trust. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023. https://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090503/spectrum/main1.htm
Hodges 1794, pp. 59–77. - Hodges, William (1794). "Chaper IV: Description of Benares". Travels in India, during the years 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783. London: printed for the author, and sold by J. Edwards. https://archive.org/details/travelsinindiad00hodggoog/page/n85/mode/2up
Hodges 1794, p. 62 Quote: "Surrounding the city are many ruins of buildings, the effects of Mahomedan intolerance. One is a large circular edifice, having evidently been a Hindoo temple, or part of one; there are still vestiges of some of the ornaments; and on one part I found the Grecian scroll". - Hodges, William (1794). "Chaper IV: Description of Benares". Travels in India, during the years 1780, 1781, 1782, and 1783. London: printed for the author, and sold by J. Edwards. https://archive.org/details/travelsinindiad00hodggoog/page/n85/mode/2up
Ray 2014, pp. 78–79. - Ray, Himanshu Prabha (2014). The Return of the Buddha: Ancient Symbols for a New Nation (1st ed.). New Delhi: Routledge. ISBN 978-0415711159.
Oertel 1908, p. 65. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
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Oertel 1908, pp. 61–62. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Duncan 1799, pp. 131–133. - Duncan, Johnathan (1799). "An Account of the Discovery of Two Urns in the Vicinity of Benares". Transactions of the Society Instituted in Bengal, for enquiring into the History and Antiquities, the Arts, Sciences and Literature, of Asia. 5: 131–3. https://archive.org/details/asiaticresearche05asia/page/130/mode/2up
Cunningham 1871, pp. 118–119. - Cunningham, Alexander (1871). "Banaras Sarnath". Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65. Vol. 1. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 103–130. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94077/page/n225/mode/2up
Asher 2020, p. 22. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Sahni 1917, pp. 17–20. - Sahni, Daya Ram (1917). Guide to the Buddhist ruins of Sarnath. Calcutta: Archaeological Survey of India. https://www.indianculture.gov.in/flipbook/83409
Oertel 1908, pp. 61–62. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Sherring 1868, p. 26. - Sherring, Matthew Atmore (1868). Benares: The Sacred City of the Hindus. Delhi: B. R. Publishing Corporation. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.499299/page/n61/mode/2up
Oertel 1908, pp. 62–64. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Asher 2020, pp. 12–13. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Oertel 1908, pp. 61–62. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Asher 2020, pp. 14–15. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Asher 2020, p. 23. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Oertel 1908, pp. 61–62. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Cunningham 1871, pp. 103–130. - Cunningham, Alexander (1871). "Banaras Sarnath". Four reports made during the years 1862-63-64-65. Vol. 1. Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India: Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 103–130. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.94077/page/n225/mode/2up
Asher 2020, p. 12. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Asher 2020, pp. 27–28. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Asher 2020, p. 24. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Asher 2020, p. 27. - Asher, Frederick M. (2020). Sarnath: A Critical History of the Place Where Buddhism Began. Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute. ISBN 978-1606066164. https://books.google.com/books?id=JMHEDwAAQBAJ
Sherring 1868, p. 25 Quote: "...in the erection of the bridges over the river Barna, forty-eight statues and other sculptured stones were removed from Sarnath and thrown into the river, to serve as a breakwater to the piers; and that, in the erection of the second bridge, the iron one, from fifty to sixty cart-loads of stones from the Sarnath buildings were employed". - Sherring, Matthew Atmore (1868). Benares: The Sacred City of the Hindus. Delhi: B. R. Publishing Corporation. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.499299/page/n61/mode/2up
Oertel 1908, p. 64. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
Oertel 1908, pp. 68–70. - Oertel, Friedrich Oscar (1908). "Excavations at Sarnath". Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report, 1904–1905. Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. pp. 59–104. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.207530/page/n97/mode/2up
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Sahni 1914, p. 2. - Sahni, Daya Ram (1914). Catalogue of the Museum of Archaeology at Sarnath (PDF). Calcutta: Superintendent Government Printing, India. https://www.indianculture.gov.in/system/files/digitalFilesICWeb/ICrarebooks/igncarepository/254/ignca-839-rb.pdf
Vogel 1906, pp. 166–167. - Vogel, Jean Philippe (1906). "Epigraphical Discoveries at Sarnath". Epigraphica Indica. 8 (17): 166–179. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.56654/page/n213/mode/2up
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"Maha-parinibbana Sutta: Last Days of the Buddha (Part Five)". Access to Insight. Translated by Vajira, Sister; Story, Francis. Barre, Massachusetts: Barre Center for Buddhist Studies. 1998. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2023. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.16.1-6.vaji.html#chap5
UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2023). "Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh". Tentative Lists. Paris: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2023. /wiki/World_Heritage_Centre
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