A Report on ASI SARNATH CIRCLE

About ASI, Sarnath Circle

Sarnath Circle, the 27th Circle of Archaeological Survey of India was established on 2 September 2013 by joining together some parts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh of Patna Circle and some of Lucknow Circle. Total 142 monuments are under the control of this circle which falls in many districts of the eastern Uttar Pradesh. The districts are Allahabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Ballia, Chandauli, Deoria, Faizabad, Ghazipur, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Mahrajganj (Previously in Gorakhpur Distt.), Jaunpur, Kaushambi, Kushinagar, Mau, Mirzapur, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Sonbhadra, Sant Kabeer Nager, Sultanpur, Varanasi.

The monuments of this circle can be classified in many groups such as Pillar Sites, Colonial Sites, Muslim/Islamic Monuments, Temple Sites, Mounds, Sculptural Site, Cave – Cum- Inscriptional Site, Forts, Sites with Buddhist remains, Bridge, Megalithic Burial Site and Observatory Site.

The important monuments of Sarnath Circle are: Buddhist monuments of Sarnath and Kushinagar, excavated remains of ancient Kashi and Kausambi, architectural remains of Sharki Dynasty of Jaunpur specially Atala and other mosques and, Gulababadi of Faizabad and Khusarubagh of Allahabad, Monolithic pillars, Inscriptions etc.

Sarnath Circle controls one site museum at Sarnath. This museum has pride collections in form of sculptures, inscriptions, potteries and other antiquities but the most important is the Lion Capital (National Emblem of India) kept in this museum which is pride of the Circle and the country as well.

Various Monuments

A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event, or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, or as an example of historic architecture. The term 'monument' is often applied to buildings or structures that are considered examples of important architectural and/or cultural heritage.

Allahabad Sub-Circle

Faizabad Sub-Circle

Kushinagar Sub-Circle

Jaunpur Sub-Circle

Report of Sarnath Excavation 2013-14

Sarnath is one of the most important, sacred and famous religious as well as pilgrimage place for the Buddhist World and as this is well known that this place is directly associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. From this place Lord Buddha has started the journey of Dhammaby giving his first sermon in C. 528 B.C.E.

Sarnath (Lat.25022’ N , Log.8300’ E) is located on the Delhi-Kolkata National Highway, at a distance of about 10 kms. Towards north-east from Varanasi Railway station and is only 23 kms. away from LalBahadur Shastri Air Port, Babatpur, Varanasi.

In ancient Buddhist literature this ancient place Sarnath is known by various names. From this place the Great Teacher -“Lord Buddha “had given his first sermon, this event is known as “Dharma-Chakra-Parvartanaor Sadharma-Chakra-Parvartana” as it had been found in an inscription of Early Medieval period at sarnath. This place is also called as Rishipatana, as it is believed that at this place five hundred Rishis (sages),PratyekaBuddha,fell after their nirvana (salvation). In ancient time it was also known by the name of Mrigadayaor Mrigadava. The modern name Sarnath has derived fromSaranganath (Lord Siva) and a temple dedicated to Lord Siva is also located at this place. Sarnath is also very sacred and auspicious to the Jainas as at this place Sreyansanatha the 11th Tirthankara of Jainas has obtained ascetism as well as has got Kaivalya.

Excavation

Excavation work at Sarnath, District Varanasi started from 19.02.2014 under the direction of Dr. B. R. Mani, Additional Director General of A.S.I. New Delhi and under the supervision of Shri Ajay Srivastava, Superintending Archaeologist (I/c) of Sarnath Circle, Varanasi. The excavation works at Sarnath session 2013-14 conducted by a team of this Circle, comprises Shri Abdul Arif, Dr. NiteshSaxena, Dr. Manisha Singh and Dr. SachinTiwary, Assistant Archaeologists, Shri O.P. Panday,Senior Photographer and Shri Ram NareshYadav, Draftsman Grade II.

Previous work

The Archaeological remains of Sarnath started attracting the scholars since 19th Century. As a result excavation works of Sarnath started first of all by Sir Alexender Cunningham (1835-36) Major Kittoe (1851-52), Mr. C. Horne (1865), Mr. F..O. Oertal(1904-05), Sir Johan Marshal (1907), Mr. H. Hargreaves (1914-15), Mr. Daya Ram Shani (1927-32). Then after a gap of about eighty-two years once again excavation work is conducted by Sarnath Circle,Sarnath of Archaeological Survey of India.

Purpose of Excavation 2013-14

The main objectives of the excavation work were to ascertain the cultural sequence of the site prior to MauryanPeriod if any.

To conduct horizontal excavation for to trace out the structural remains, antiquities, potteries and other archeological remains belonging to Buddha’s time or before it if any.

PROPOSED CONSERVATION WORK

1. Conservation of Raja Man Singh Observatory at Man Mahal, Varanasi
2. Construction of retaining wall adjoining the Ganga river of Lal Khan tomb, Rajghat, Varanasi
3. Conservation & restoration of southern side collapsed ancient fortification wall at Hetampur fort, Chandauli
4. Conservation ancient bricks structure of Kumar Devi monastery at Excavated remains, Sarnath, Varanasi
5. Clarence at western side debris and conservation of exposed structure of Chaukhandi Stupa, Sarnath, Varanasi
6. Conservation of ancient structure & stupa behind the main temple, Kushinagar
7. Construction of boundary wall around the ancient mound, Asmanpur, Kushinagar
8. Development of car parking area near the matha Kunwar temple side at Kushinagar
9. Construction of boundary wall at ancient fortification wall, Rudrapur, Deoria
10. Conservation plan to repair and raise of east-west corner fortification wall of Old Shahi Fort, Jaunpur
11. Structural repair of Char Ungli Mosque, Jaunpur
12. Structural repair of Daulat Ibrahim tomb, Mehnagar, Azamgarh
13. structural repair and old damaged Aslar stone wall at Atala Maszid, Jaunpur
14. Structural repair of Qualich Khan ka Makbara, Katghara, Jaunpur
15. Repair of platform of Tomb of Khushrobagh, Allahabad
16. Providing movement track to the eastern side of Kydganj Cemetery, Allahabad
17. Providing boundary wall at remaining portion (North Side) of excavation site, Bhita, Allahabad
18. Structural repair of Veneer portion of Alha-udal Ki Baithak, chilla, Allahabad
19. Providing pathway to Main road to Defence wall, Kaushambi
20. Structural repair to Southern Side of excavated site (Ghoshitaram Vihar),  Kaushambi
21. Repair of South-West side ancient wall, Gulab Bari, Faizabad
22. Repair of Nawab Shuja-ud-daula Tomb, Faizabad
23. Repair of South-West ancient wall of Bahu Begum Tomb, Faizabad
24. Construction of west side compound wall of Prithvinath Mahadev Temple, Faizabad