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Sarnath
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.- Dhamekh Stupa. Constructed by king Ashoka in 249 BCE to commemorate his pilgrimage to the Deer Park. It is believed that the stupa marks the exact spot where the Buddha taught the five ascetics the Four Noble Truths, his first teaching after attaining enlightenment.
- Chaukhandi Stupa. Constructed in the the 5th century, the stupa marks the spot where the Buddha met the five ascetics. The octagonal tower is of Islamic origin and a later addition.
- Mulagandhakuti Vihara. The ruins of the temple where the Buddha spent his first rainy season.
- Ashoka Pillar. Only the base remains.
- Sarnath Archeological Museum. A small, but impressive collection of artifacts excavated from the site. The sculptures are particularly of interest.
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Possessions...
Made by designldg
As I was leaving Sarnath's Tibetan temple to go back to Varanasi (Benaras), I met this man on the road, he was finishing a day of labor, he seemed to be tired but when he saw my camera he came and smiled at me. He was happy that I took a few pictures of him, he felt important for a while and I guess I made his day... The sun was falling down giving this perfect golden light. This is a poem by my friend Abhinav Vats, I wanted to add his words to this portrait even if this man is a worker building roads and does not work as what is mentioned down there: Possessions... by Abhinav Vats Two bites of a stale bread,a broken water pitcher..a few memories fading away...are my sacred possessions. Ten cents that you gave me, 5 cents that i found on the pebbled path.. some unsold paintings,some clothes torn apart,few smiles ,a lot of tears...are my sacred possessions.. I am poor but i own this sky with thousands of lights shining bright-these friends of mine they might be hurting your eyes .these stars and some unspoken words....are my profound sacred possessions. I am the river that runs from the sea to the mountain peak,i am the lake dried and parched yet wet when the thirsty comes to drink.. I am not what I used to be, to myself I am-my only sacred possession. Every hitched ride,every penny earned by sleeping with a carnal client.. every other washroom's free drinking water,every bustling bus station's unclean sleeping platform,every dream and every desire..my life and my birth...are my revered sacred possessions. I am a bird with tiny wings-I lean on the shoulder of strong winds.. I am the poisnous snake with no fangs,i cannot control whats not in my hands... Used and abused..my body or my emotions,some were strangers some are lovers.,from one hand to another-like a bright shinning non living volley ball-I am played , traded and disposed away. I do not possess my peculiar fate-its the robust strangers' & weak lovers' they play the game... I am at their disposition ,an entertaining possession. My anger is in my destiny, a hungry soul never gets indignant-longs for its feed.. my destiny is not beautifull & not in my hands...this ugliness that should change some day-was..,is... my unwanted, undesired -deciphered possession.
Shards of Broken Dreams
Made by designldg
The oldest living city in the world. This is a picture of a detail from a pillar of emperor Ashoka's palace in Sarnath near Varanasi (Benaras). I shot it at dusk a few weeks ago. The archaeological site keeps on showing new remains season after season, it is amazing to see shards of the past which are suggesting a very sophisticated civilization which disappeared like broken dreams... Ashoka (Devanāgarī: अशोक), (304 BC – 232 BC) was an Indian emperor, of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled from 273 BC to 232 BC. Often cited as one of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests. His empire stretched from present-day Afghanistan and parts of Persia in the west, to the present-day Bengal and Assam states of India in the east, and as far south as the Mysore state. He embraced Buddhism from the prevalent Vedic tradition after witnessing the mass deaths of the war of Kalinga, which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest. He was later dedicated in the propagation of Buddhism across Asia and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha. King Asoka, the third monarch of the Indian Mauryan dynasty, has come to be regarded as one of the most exemplary rulers in world history. His name aśoka means without sorrow in Sanskrit. In his edicts, he is referred to as Devānāmpriya (Devanāgarī: देवानांप्रिय)/Devānaṃpiya or The Beloved Of The Gods, and Priyadarśin (Devanāgarī: प्रियदर्शी)/Piyadassī or He who regards everyone amiably.
The Look of Exhaustion
Made by designldg
One more portrait of a worker from this group of men who were building a part of the road in the village that leads from the Tibetan temple to Sarnath near Varanasi (Benaras). This golden light comes from the early winter sunset. After a long day of labor you can see an overall exhaustion on this man's face. He was tired, covered with dust, his eyes were red, he looks tensed but after a short while he smiled at me and seemed to enjoy this moment like his other friends. I like this portrait which reminds me a Masaï warrior whome I met in Kenya many years ago when I was a teenager, he had the same scare on his eyebrow and the same expression on his face. He used to come every night at dusk in front of my tent and was staying there all night long in order to protect me from wild animals. He tried to teach me a few words of swahili then but we never could share a conversation as I didn't stay long enough in the Mara at that time...memories...his face is still in my mind. Portraits are sometimes repetitions of another, as if we could all be connected. Trying to find connections between people is what I find interesting in this photo game, it is also a way for me to understand who I am...
Jai hind
Made by designldg
Ashoka Pillar was erected at Sarnath by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BCE and is now displayed in the Sarnath museum. It is used as the central symbol of India. The Sarnath pillar marks the site of the first sermon of the Buddha, where he taught the Dharma to five monks. The pillar bears one of the Edicts of Ashoka, an inscription against schism within the Buddhist community, which reads No one shall cause division in the order of monks. The pillar is a column surmounted by a capital, which consists of a canopy representing an inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, a short cylindrical abacus where alternate four 24-spoked Dharma wheels with four animals (an elephant, a bull, a horse, a lion), and four lions facing the four cardinal directions. Unfortunately it is not possible to take pictures inside the museum so my brother bought me this wooden one nearby in a shop when we went to Sarnath together for the first time. Recently I saw a very nice replica in Kolkata's Indian Museum but I took a shot of mine a few hours ago and draped it in the colours of India (Nårangi, safed aur harå).
Rani, Queen of Hearts
Made by designldg
Rani means Queen in hindi. It is also the first name of this cousin of the family who is only 16. She looks like a queen and her beauty is astonishing, maybe because she is not aware of it. When she was younger I could guess how beautiful she will be, not only from her features but also from her graceful gesture and attitudes. Nowadays she is very funny and while we went to the Tibetan temple in Sarnath, she started stricking poses as if she was a cover girl for a fashion magazine. I always thought that she has something of Priyanka Chopra... Soon she should become the Queen of all the hearts of her generation. I took this picture when she was not posing anymore and because of her hair style and the way she was wearing her silk shawl I added a few layers in order to have this kind of 15th century portrait look.
Sarnath
The Buddhist and Jain Temples at Sarnath, India...Buddha Sarnath Jain
Sarnath
A visit to Sarnath, Varanasi...Varanasi India Namita Lucknow Sarnath
Dhamekh Stupa, Sarnath
Dhamekh stupa, Sarnath, outside Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (India). This stupa, reportedly built in the time of Emperor Ashoka, marks the place the
Driving to Sarnath from Varanasi
You can see why a typical trip in India takes a long time! We averaged 25 Mph or 40 Kph on most trips...India Roads chaos
Train leaving Sarnath (July 1992)
Sarnath had both BG and MG at that time. This one is a BG train proceeding towards Aunrihar....IRFCA Indian Railways
Dhamekh Stupa at Sarnath
Built around 500 AD, This stupa marks the spot where Buddha revealed his Eightfold Path leading to nirvana....Sarnath India Dhamekh Stupa
At Sarnath
Explanation of stupa types at Sarnath...Sarnath
Viaje a India 10: Sarnath
los Ciervos - Stupa Dhamek - Templos Música: "Del Pita Del" Orleya...india sarnath parque ciervos stupa dhamed buda templos del pita orleya
At Sarnath
The tour guide at Sarnath, the site where the Buddah gave his first sermon after reaching enlightenment...Sarnath
Dhammacakkapravattana Sutra
Theravada monks from Sri Lanka recite the sutra at the Mahabodhi Society temple in Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh....india monk buddhist buddhism prayer religion "sri lanka
Buddha Tirthe Chakma 3 of 10
present, there are 4 (four) Buddhist temples in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh....Chakma Tirthastan Bodhgaya Sarnath Buddhist India Bangladesh
Buddhism in India and Nepal
patterns of behavior and embracing positive ones. The pictures with the ruins are from Sarnath, the place where Buddha give his first lessons....Buddhism India
Buddha Tirthe Chakma 4 of 10
The Chakma...Chakma Tirthastan Bodhgaya Sarnath Buddhist India Bangladesh
On The Road In India
This was taken from our auto rickshaw on the way to Sarnath...where the Buddha first preached after his enlightenment...Crazy Indian Streets
Leaving Varanasi - Mahanagri Exp. (July 1992)
On the adjacent platform is the Sarnath Exp. that had just been shunted in. Also, note that YDM4-headed freight train stationed on PF1.
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