Monday, March 27th, Varanasi, India

Greetings!

Sarnath was the city in 526 BC where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon upon achieving enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.  It's one of the top four pilgrimages, according to Buddha.  Most popular east of India, especially as Islam swept in from the west, the site underwent major restoration in in 19th century.  One of the outstanding statues, which is on display in the nearby museum, is the four-headed lion portrayed on all Indian currency.

The main name of the City (Varanasi) comes from the names of the two Ganges tributaries on whose confluence it sits (Varuna and Assi).  Fronting on the river are Ghats, world renown embankments made in steps of stone where Hindu pilgrims perform ritual ablutions.  There are 84 of them, most of which are used for bathing and the spiritually significant Hindu Puja ceremony, while a few are used for used exclusively for cremation.   

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Monday, March 27th, Varanasi, India