Sarnath Museum

This presentation is prepared for the BA students to get basic information on Archaeological Museum of Sarnath. This presentation is incomplete and students are advised to get the further and proper information from subjective books and recommended research article.

1. Site Museum Sarnath Dr. Virag Sontakke

2. Introduction Earliest site museum in India Oldest site museum of Archaeological Survey of India (henceforth ASI) Situated near the important site of Sarnath, Varanasi, UP It houses very important archaeological remains recovered from excavations at Sarnath. National emblem of India Image of Shakyamuni

3. Sarnath Sarnath is one of the most important place in Buddhism This very place is directly associated with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha. From this place Lord Buddha has started the journey of Dhamma by giving his first sermon in C. 528 B.C.E. This event is known as “Dharma-Chakra- Parvartana . Birth place of Buddhism

4. Excavations at Sarnath The Archaeological remains of Sarnath started attracting the scholars since 19th Century. 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). B. R. Mani (2013-14)

5. Archaeology of the Sarnath Dharmarajika Stupa Asokan Pillar + Lion Capital Dhammekh Stupa Mulgandh Kuti Numerous Vihara

6. Beginning of Archaeological Museum Archaeological Museum Sarnath was established in 1910. The designing of the museum was commissioned to Mr James Ransome, who was the consulting architect to the Government of India. The creation of this museum was initiated by J. Marshall. He was Director General of ASI. Museum built to preserve and display antiquities found during the excavation at Sarnath .

7. Collection and Galleries Antiquities from excavations The museum has 6,832 sculptures and artefacts. Finest specimens of Buddhist art Mostly Buddha images and sculptures Sarnath museum has five galleries Two verandas also used for display Period: 300 BCE- 1200 CE

8. Significant Items Asokan Capital Dharmachakra Pravartan Mudra Bodhisatva Bala Buddha images Jain Tirthankara Shiva Sculptures of Mourya Shunga Kushana

9. Gallery No.1 Situated on the northern most end of the museum. Housed the sculpture of Sarnath School of Art. Gallery displays images of Buddha, Vajrapani , Bodhisattva Padamapani , Nilakantha Lokeshvara and Maitraya , etc. The most notable in this museum is undoubtedly the image of preaching Buddha dated to Gupta period. Other images of seated and standing Buddha in different postures displayed in this gallery are also very remarkable examples of Sarnath School of art.

10. Gallery No.1 This image is remarkable example of spirituality and inner bliss. The wheel ( dharmachakra ) occupies the central position on the pedestal. Figure of deer are placed on either side of wheel denoting the place as deer park. The figures of five disciples to whom Buddha preached first sermon are depicted along with a lady and child on the lower part of the image.

11. Image of Bodhisattva  Panel showing Buddha's life  Image of Vajrapani   Buddha Gallery No.1

12. Dharmachakra Pravartan Mudra Standing Buddha

13. Gallery No 2. Located on the northern side of main hall. It exhibits images of Buddhist deities and some associated objects. A standing image of Siddhaikavira , a form of Manjushri, god of wisdom, is one of the earliest images of this deity. Standing Tara, holding a pomegranate in hand which had burst upon to reveal a row of seeds, is a fine example of sculptural art of Sarnath . Bodhisattva Padmapani , miracle of Shravasti Jambhala , (god of wealth and prosperity) and his female consort Vasudhara (goddess of abundance), Ramagrama stupa being protected by snakes and inscription of Kumardevi , are remarkable pieces of art. Image of Marichi , Aparajita , Vasudhara , Heruka and heads of the images of Buddha and Tara are also displayed in the showcases of the gallery.

14. Bodhisattva Neelkantha Avalokitesvara   Sculpture showing Marichi   Great miracle of Shravasti  

15. Gallery No. 3 This gallery is centrl hall of the museum. The lion capital, India’s national emblem is exhibited here. To it’s left stands a colossal Bodhisattva image of red sandstone, which was donated in 3rd regnal year (81 C.E.) of Kushana king Kanishka by friar Bala of Mathura. The figure bears inscriptions in Kushana Brahmi script at pedestal and on back in support of its erection. The image was dedicated under the shade of a huge umbrella fixed on an octagonal shaft standing just behind. Umbrella carved with auspicious symbols is kept towards north east of the main hall. To the left of this figure, there is another Bodhisattva figure made of locally available Chunar sandstone. To the east & south east of the gallery, there are eight standing Buddha figures carved in classical Gupta characteristics. Some of these figures bear donative inscriptions in Gupta Brahmi script. The other important figure is that of standing Tara with both arms broken.

16. Gallery No. 3

17. At the center located lion Capital of the Asokan Pillar Specialized Mauryan art Lustrous polish Circular abacus A lion, an elephant, an bull and an horse Inverted lotus Once it was surmounted by wheel It is made of Chunar sandstone measuring 2.31 mtr . in height.

18. Umblera of Bodhisattva

19. Kumardevi Inscription

20. Gallery No. 4 Located on the southern side of main hall. This gallery exhibits the images of Yaksha with Brahmanical deities. Sculptures of Surya, Saraswati , Mahishamardini etc. Some figures of birds, animals, male and female heads dating from third century B.C.E. to twelfth century C.E. are displayed in different showcases. One of the showcases exhibits iron implements while terracotta decorated baked bricks and pots are also displayed. Images of Jain Tirthankaras Parshvanatha , Vimalanatha also displayed

21. Head of Jain Tirthankara  Gallery No. 4

22. Heads Gallery No. 4

23. Gallery No. 5 Gallery No. 5 exhibits Hindu deities. Sculptures of Shiva in different forms, Vishnu, Ganesha , Kartikeya, Agni, Parvati, Navagrahs (nine planets) with Ganesha , Lakshmi and Saraswati . A panel depicting Navagrahas with Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesa is also remarkable. Shiva as Bhairava (aggressive form of the Lord) is one of the finest Brahmanical images found at Sarnath . A colossal Andhakasurvadha (killing of demon Andhaka ) image of Shiva in his terrific form is also noteworthy.

24. Shiva as a Andhakasura

25. Andhakasurvadha Bhairava

26. Gold Gallery An accidental discovery on 31.05.1990 unearthed one baked clay plot containing few gold objects in the premises of Myanmar Temple adjacent to the excavated area of Sarnath . This collection consists objects of gold, gold foil, copper, copper plated with gold, clay wrapped in gold foil and breads of semi precious stones etc.  The objects made with gold were of various forms i.e. wheel, replica of stupa, triratna symbol, beads and flowers etc. dated to 2nd - 1st cent. B.C.E.

27. Verandah There are two verandahs on either side of the entrance of the museum. In Veranda many architectural pieces are exhibited like lintel, face stone, doorjamb, bas-relief, pediment etc. In the North verandah , carvings of fauna and flora, the Buddha in different postures, the Bodhisattvas, Hindu gods and goddesses like Shiva, Parvati, Ganesa, Vishnu and others.  The verandah at the South side also exhibits face and corner stones, lintels, pediments, pedestals, gargoyle and other architectural pieces. There are architectural pieces, attendants, female and other male-female figures. 

28. Verandah

29. Lintel with nine Planet  Agni (headless) 

30. Sum-up Earliest Site Museum Collection of pride of India Items of Historical, Archaeological and National importance.