Editing Sarnath (section)

==Present day==
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According to the ''[[Mahāparinibbāṇa Sutta|Mahaparinibbana Sutta]]'' (''[[Sutra|Sutta]]'' 16 of the ''[[Dīgha Nikāya|Digha Nikaya]]''), the Buddha mentioned Sarnath as one of the [[Buddhist pilgrimage sites|four places of pilgrimage]] his devout followers should visit and look upon with [[Saṃvega|feelings of reverence]].<ref name=Thanissaro1998/><ref name=Vajira&Story1998/> During the British East India's [[Company rule in India|colonial rule]], ancient sites such as Sarnath were subjected to extensive archaeological study. Certain levels of restoration occurred decades later.

Consequently, Sarnath has regained its former status as a place of pilgrimage, both for Buddhists and [[Tirtha (Jainism)|Jains]]. In 1998, Sarnath was [[List of World Heritage Sites in India#Tentative list|nominated for inclusion]] on the [[UNESCO|United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization]] (UNESCO) list of [[World Heritage Site]]s of outstanding universal value to [[cultural heritage]]. The nomination comprises two groups of monuments: group "A" is represented by the [[Chaukhandi Stupa]], while all other monuments (e.g., temples, stupas, monasteries, and the pillar of Ashoka) are included as part of group "B".<ref name=UNESCO>{{cite web|author=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|authorlink=World Heritage Centre|title=Ancient Buddhist Site, Sarnath, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh|work=Tentative Lists|publisher=[[World Heritage Centre|UNESCO World Heritage Centre]]|location=Paris|year=2023|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1096/|accessdate=1 January 2023|archive-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126071858/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1096/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The sites of the greatest importance to Buddhist pilgrims include:
* The [[Dhamek Stupa]] is considered to mark the location of the Buddha's first teaching. Scholars believe that the name of the stupa might be a combination of the words 'Dharma Chakra', which means ''Turning the Wheel of Dharma''.<ref name=Dhamek/> A reliquary stupa was built on the site after the Buddha's passing, and then likely modified by Ashoka who in 249 BCE was recorded as changing the stupa<ref name=Dhamek>"Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath", https://guidevaranasi.com/dhamek-stupa-in-sarnath/</ref> while he was gathering and redistributing the Buddha's relics. Its inner chambers had held reliquaries. It is an impressive structure, {{convert|39|m|abbr=off}} high and {{convert|28|m|abbr=off}} in diameter.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
* The Dharmarajika Stupa is one of the few pre-Ashokan stupas remaining at Sarnath, although only the foundations remain. It has been the subject of extensive depredations and archaeological excavations, from the late 18th through the early 20th century.{{sfn|Oertel|1908|pp=61-68}}
* The [[Pillars of Ashoka|Ashokan pillar]] erected here was broken during the invasions of the 12th century but many of the pieces remain at the original location. The pillar was originally surmounted by the [[Lion Capital of Ashoka]], which in turn served as the base of a large 32-spoke sandstone [[dharmachakra|wheel of dharma]]. The lion capital and the wheel of dharma, presently on display at the [[Sarnath Museum|Sarnath Archeological Museum]], now symbolize the modern state of India. Both of these appear on the emblem of the [[Supreme Court of India]],<ref>{{harvnb|Wagner|2021|p=406}} Quote: "A slightly different (32-spoke) version of the same wheel adorns the logo of the Supreme Court of India as a visual declaration of righteousness, authority and truth....".</ref> and the wheel of dharma is incorporated in the [[flag of India]].{{sfn|Sadan|2016|p=177}}
* The ruins of the ancient Mulagandha Kuty Vihara mark the place where the Buddha spent his first rainy season. This was the main temple later marked by the presence of the Ashokan pillar at the front. The fifth-century CE sandstone sculpture of ''[[Buddha Preaching his First Sermon (Sarnath)|Buddha Preaching his First Sermon]]'' was found in the vicinity.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} The contemporary Mulagandha Kuty Vihara, dating from the 1930s, currently holds the bone relics of the Buddha.
* The Dharma Chakra Jina Vihar, a massive monastery and [[Vihāra|living quarters for monks]] believed to have been constructed or restored in the mid-12th century at the behest of Kumaradevi, a wife of [[Govindachandra (Gahadavala dynasty)|Govindachandra]] (c. 1114–1155 CE).{{sfn|Konow|1908|pp=320, 327-8}}
* The [[Chaukhandi Stupa]], located {{convert|800|m|mi|frac=2|abbr=off}} outside of Deer Park, commemorates the place where the Buddha reunited his first five disciples [[Kaundinya]], [[Assaji]], Bhaddiya, Vappa, and Mahanama. It is capped with an octagonal brick tower that was erected as a memorial to [[Humayun|Emperor Humayun]] by his son [[Akbar]] in 1588&nbsp;CE.{{sfn|Oertel|1908|p=74}}
* The Sarnath Archeological Museum houses the famous Lion Capital of Ashoka, which survived a {{convert|45|ft|m|0|adj=on|order=flip}} drop to the ground from the top of the Ashokan pillar, and became the [[State Emblem of India]] and national symbol on the flag of India. The museum also houses the original fifth-century CE sandstone sculpture of ''[[Buddha Preaching his First Sermon (Sarnath)|Buddha Preaching his First Sermon]]'', as well as the Kumaradevi inscription.<ref name=ASI2013/>