The Dhamek Stupa, a massive and historically significant structure, is located in Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the eight most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, as it marks the precise location where the Buddha delivered his first sermon to his first five disciples—Kaundinya, Assaji, Bhaddiya, Vappa, and Mahanama—after achieving enlightenment. This pivotal event, known as the turning of the Wheel of Dharma, led to the formation of the sangha, or the community of Buddhist monks. The name Dhamek is believed to be a corruption of the Sanskrit word dharmeksā, meaning "pondering of the law."
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| The Dhamek Stupa UP en.wikipedia.org |
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| The Dhamek Stupa UP |
The stupa's current form is a solid cylinder of bricks and stone, standing at an impressive height of 43.6 meters with a diameter of 28 meters. While the basement is believed to be part of the original structure commissioned by Mauryan King Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, the exquisite floral carvings on the stone facing are characteristic of the later Gupta era, dating back to the 5th or 6th century CE. The stupa has been enlarged on at least six occasions over its history. When the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited the site in 640 CE, he recorded that the main stupa was nearly 300 feet high. An Ashoka pillar with an edict engraved on it still stands near the site, testifying to its ancient roots.
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| Damaka stupa, UP upload.wikimedia.org |
The site's rich history is also intertwined with a notable archaeological discovery in 1794. During the dismantling of a nearby stupa by Babu Jagat Singh, a green marble reliquary containing bones and pearls was unearthed. Unfortunately, the relics were immersed in the Ganges, and the reliquary later disappeared. The bricks from that stupa were used for local construction, highlighting the damage done to historical sites before formal archaeological preservation began. Today, the Dhamek Stupa stands as a powerful symbol of the birth of the Buddhist faith.
