This Buddhist monument is situated in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. Sarnath which is a major Archaeological Survey of India’s excavated Site. This was the place known as deer park chosen by Lord Buddha to address his first sermon to his five Brahmin friends after enlightenment in Bodhgaya. He preached to Assaji, Kaundinya, Bhaddiya, Vappa and Mahanama. He established the first Sangha at this place.
This Stupa was built by Emperor Ashoka who embraced Buddhism at the age of 43 in 263 BCE, after the Kalinga War. Whereas Buddha died in Kushinagar at the age of 80 in 483 BCE. After Buddha’s death he was cremeted in Kushinagar and his ashes were distributed to eight princes of the 16 Janpadas. It means Ashoka retrieved the ashes of Buddha from the seven Stupas except the Ramagram after 220 years of Buddha’s death. This is the largest and tallest brick Stupa in which moulded bricks were used. It might be small when built first and later Kings added to initial structure so it has a massive size.
He built this Dhamekha Stupa and later it was expanded by the Gupta dynasty rulers who were the patron of Buddhism in 4th to 5th Century AD. They added a stone cylinder all around the Stupa with engraved images, flowers and other Buddhist motifs. It was built on the ashes of Buddha and it’s a very sacred place for Buddhist because Buddha taught a path of liberation through a path lies inbetween lust and austerity. His main principles included moral training and compassion for others, and meditative practices to control the senses.
This Stupa is major pilgrimage site for Buddhist devotees and visited by tourists also.