The marvel of the universal truth

by Rupa Banduwardena

The Buddha worked for the happiness and emancipation of humanity. The universal truth he preached was the most meaningful message to the mankind. He wandered all over and after self-mortification, seated under the Asatu tree at Buddha Gaya he attained Enlightenment on the Vesak full moon Poya day and became the Buddha.

Having found the solution to his burning problem the riddle of life, the Buddha went back to his former colleagues. Seeing Him coming towards them, the five ascetics Kondangna, Vappa, Baddiya, Assaji and Mahanama were determined not to take notice of Him. But as the Buddha headed towards them, their pride vanished and they stood upright and listened to Him.

The greatest truth

The greatest truth in human history - the four noble truths and the noble eightfold Path he had realised through his own exertion was explained to them. Thus he delivered his first sermon: “Dhamma Chakkapavattana Sutta” to the five ascetics in the Deer Park at Isipatana, Benares and set in motion the wheel of the Dhamma. Numerous Devas and Brahmas had gathered to listen to His first sermon. Ven. Kondagna became the first disciple of the Buddha.

The others too became Arahats when the Buddha delivered to all of them the second sermon Anantalakkhana Sutta. The priceless Dhamma was brought into focus. The gift of Dhamma excels all other gifts Sabbha Danam Dhamma Danam Jinathi, said the Buddha. Now the last of the noble triple gem - the Sangha too starts with the five ascetics entering the order.

When the first six including the Buddha had increased to 60 following Yasa and his friends, the Buddha exhorted His disciples: “Go forth Bhikkhus into the world taking the message to them, explain to them, what I have explained for the well-being of the majority”. The Buddha welcomed all into his fold and he was there to guide them on discipline and monitor them. In its widest sense the noble triple gem is now complete.

Saranath, situated five miles to the north of Benares, marks the birthplace of the Dhamma, the teaching of the Buddha and the Sangha the first sacred event of great historical and cultural importance in the annals of Buddhism. The Buddha, before the Parinibbana had told Ven. Ananda that there were four places that devotees should visit with feelings of Sanvega. The identity of these locations marked by temples, stupas and other sacred institutions did not last long when the Moghals in their conquering spree had destroyed most of the historic temples built to honour the Buddha. Emperor Asoka worked hard to safeguard and preserve the sacred venues for future generations. Having embraced Buddhism, Emperor Asoka went on a pilgrim age to all sites connected with the Buddha's ministry of 45 years and set up rock edicts and pillar inscriptions for the sake of the posterity. He set up a pillar with four magnificent lions upholding a Dharma Chakra which was set in motion at Saranath, exactly where the Buddha preached his first sermon, with an inscription in Brahmi script. After the Muslim invasion, Saranath was reduced into a mound of debris below which the history remained buried. General Alexander Cunningham, the reputed British Archaeologist, during excavations had found an inscription that Damekha Stupa site was the spot where the Buddha had delivered his first discourse.

Dharma Chakra

The delivery of the first sermon is represented by a wheel which is depicted in sculpture found in many Buddhist sites such as Andra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttara Pradesh and certain fragments were preserved in the Saranath Museum, long after the Moghuls carried away the gold and jewellery decorations of the entire Saranath.

After the 12th century when Buddhism was on the decline in India, the excavations by Sir John Marshall led him to build a Museum to place all the Buddhist remains he had discussed.

When Anagarika Dharmapala invited Shri Jawaharalal Nehru to ceremonially open the Nava Mulagandhi Vihara he had also accompanied the Nehru family to Saranath Museum, in close vicinity. This is where Sri Nehru decided Dharmachakra to be the symbol for the Indian National flag, during the freedom movement in India.

Thus Dharmachakra adorns the centre of the tri colour national flag, of India where Buddhism was born. Really the voice of the Buddha was first heard here. On a full moon day at eventide in the Deer Park at Isipatana at Benares the marvel of universal truth, the Dhamma Chakkapavattana Sutta where the essence of Buddha's teachings are embodied, was revealed to the world on an Esala Poya Day.