Chapter 26: The First Sermon at Deer Park

After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha did not remain in solitary peace. Instead, he resolved to share his insight with others. At Deer Park in Sarnath, near Varanasi, he preached to the five ascetics who had once practiced austerities with him. This moment is remembered as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. 

Gandharan Depictions

In Gandharan reliefs, the First Sermon is characterized by several key motifs:

• The Dharma Wheel (Dharmachakra) — often placed at the center, symbolizing the start of the Buddha’s teaching.
• Preaching Gesture — the Buddha is shown with the dharmachakra mudrā, his hands before his chest in a symbolic turning motion.
• The Five Disciples — seated in reverence before him, holding alms bowls or with palms joined, they represent the earliest sangha.
• Deer Figures — sometimes a pair of deer appear beneath the throne, alluding to the name of the park.

These carvings do more than record an event: they embody the transformation of enlightenment into a teaching to be shared.

Historical Significance

Tradition holds that the Buddha first taught the Four Noble Truths: suffering, its cause, its cessation, and the path. These became the foundation of Buddhist philosophy.

In Gandharan art, the First Sermon is shown not only as a historical moment but as a cosmic one: once the wheel of Dharma is set in motion, it continues to turn endlessly, symbolizing the eternal relevance of the teaching.

Thus, the scene marks the Buddha’s transition from enlightened being to teacher of the world.