A Pilgrimage Special: Sudden Destruction in Sarnath

Sarnath is remembered as the place where Lord Buddha delivered his first Sermon, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta or Discourse on Turning the Wheel of Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence. King Asoka visited Sarnath in 249 BC and erected several monuments here. However, at one time in history, this significant place was forgotten for 600 years. In 1800, Major Kittoe excavated Sarnath and revealed a tragic period of massive and sudden destruction by fire at the hands of an adversary. Remains of ready-made wheaten cakes and wheat and other grains in some of the cells had suggested that the destruction was sudden and rapid. Major Kittoe said that all have been sacked and burnt not once but several times. Monks, temples, idols were burnt together and in some places, bones, iron, timber, idols etc had all fused into huge heaps...

Ruins in Sarnath...