Context: India has officially nominated Sarnath for the UNESCO World Heritage List (2025-26 cycle) ending its 27-year wait on the tentative list.
Ahead of a UNESCO team’s visit, the ASI will install a corrected plaque crediting Babu Jagat Singh (1787-88) a local ruler, instead of the British, for the rediscovery of the site.
Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Key facts about Sarnath.
Historical and Religious Significance
- Sarnath is a major Buddhist pilgrimage site where the Gautam Buddha delivered his first sermon around 528 BCE.
- Located about 10 km from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- It is also the place where the Buddhist sangha (community) was first formed.
- Ancient texts refer to the place as Mrigadava (Deer Park) or Rishipatana.
- Emperor Ashoka (268-232 BCE) erected the famous Lion Capital Pillar at Sarnath, now the national emblem of India. He commissioned monastic structures including the Dhamek Stupa, which marks the spot of the first sermon.
- Later dynasties, including the Kushanas (1st-4th century CE) and the Guptas (3rd-6th century CE) continued to patronise and expand the site.
Decline and Destruction:
- Sarnath flourished as a monastic centre until the 12th century CE, after which it was destroyed and abandoned.
- Historical accounts attribute this decline to invasions by Qutb-ud-din Aibak (1193 CE) during Muhammad Ghor’s campaign, when temples and monasteries were sacked.
- By the 13th century, Sarnath was in ruins coinciding with the decline of Buddhism in India.
Rediscovery and Modern Excavations:
- The site was rediscovered in 1787-88 when workers of Jagat Singh, Diwan of Raja Chait Singh of Benares, unearthed Buddhist relics while digging for construction materials.
- In 1799, the site drew wider attention when Jonathan Duncan, a prominent indologist and founder of the Sanskrit College at Varanasi, described the discoveries in his writings. His account spurred interest among British scholars and laid the foundation for systematic excavations.
- Alexander Cunningham (1835-36), founder of the Archaeological survey of India (ASI), carried out excavations and confirmed Sarnath as the site of the Buddha’s first sermon.
- The most significant excavations, however, were carried out in 1904-05. They unearthed over 470 relics and 41 inscriptions giving the site its current archaeological identity.
Contemporary Significance:
- Today, Sarnath is recognised as one of the four holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites, along with Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Kushinagara.
- In 2024-25, over 8.43 lakh visitors visited the site, according to ASI data.
- Its nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List underscores India’s efforts to preserve and promote its Buddhist heritage globally.