Dharmarajika Stupa, Sarnath, India

Main ruins of the Dharmarajika Stupa, Sarnath.


The Dharmarajika Stupa was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd Century BC to enshrine the relics of Buddha at the time of their re-distribution. It is located in Sarnath, India. According to legend, Ashoka opened seven relic stupas - but did not touch the Ramgram Stupa, as it was guarded by the Nagas. He collected the relics to erect thousands of stupas, of which Dharmarajika Stupa is one of them.

Excavations revealed that Dharmarajika Stupa was originally a small stupa of 13.49 meters in diameter. It was enlarged six times, each time its height was raised. Circumambulatory path was also added, along with monolithic staircases at the four cardinal directions.

Unfortunately, in 1794 the Raja Chetsingh of Varanasi tore it down to make use of its bricks as building material. During the tragic demolition, a relic casket of green marble was found. Inside it a stone box was discovered. The box is now preserved in the Indian Museum in Calcutta whereas the casket was thrown into the Ganges.

During later excavations at the site, two outstanding Buddha images were recovered. They were the Colossal Bodhistiva from the Kusana Period and the Seated Buddha of Dharm-Chakra-Pravartina Mudra from the Gupta Period.

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