Buddha's golden statue stolen from Sarnath

    Sarnath: Uttar Pradesh police is on the hunt for thieves who have stolen a golden statue of Lord Buddha from an ancient Stupa (Buddhist temple) in Sarnath. The golden life-size statue, which was placed in Mulgandha Kuti Vihara, a monument built in the 1930s, went missing on Sunday night. Police suspect the theft to be an inside job. "It could not have been done by any outsider as it's not easy to get inside. Also, who would know that it was a golden statue? I think it is the act of someone who knew every detail about the temple and the statue," said Ananth Dev Tripathi, Varanasi's Superintendent of Police. Along with the golden statue, presented by the Sri Lankan government 30 years ago, a silver urn has also been stolen, Tripathi said, adding, " four people have been detained in connection with the theft and further investigations are on".

   Sarnath, situated 10 km away from Varanasi, is the place where Lord Buddha preached his first sermon in 500 BC. Sarnath is the most important Buddhist pilgrimage destination in Uttar Pradesh. At Sarnath, Lord Buddha had delivered his first sermon to his five disciples where he had preached the middle path for attaining 'Nirvana'. The Buddha came to this place, to preach his message "Maha- Dharma-Chakra Pravartan" (in Buddhist terminology, 'turned the wheel of the law') after he achieved enlightenment at Bihar's Bodhigaya, now known as Bodh Gaya. Later on, in the 3rd century BC, Emperor Ashoka built some of the finest Buddhist monuments at the place. The most notable structures of Sarnath are the Dhamekh Stupa and Dharmarajika Stupa. The stupas are cylindrical in shape and rise to great heights from the ground. Near it is the great Ashokan pillar, surmounted by the magnificent capital of four adored lions, which today forms the national emblem of India. Another stupa, Choukhandi was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the year 1555 AD.

     Another important shrine in Sarnath is Mulgandha Kuti Vihara built in the year 1930. The Bodhi tree growing within the campus of the Vihara is believed to be the offspring of one under which Buddha had attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya. Besides, Sarnath has a number of stupas (pillars) and monasteries, constructed to honour important events including Buddha's Enlightenment, his first Sermon, his Death and the four famous Buddhist councils. Buddha was born a prince at Lumbini in Nepal over 2,600 years ago.

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