Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s2.t6.1

v1.c7.s2.t6.1

In Buddhist texts, Sarnath, one of the four most significant spots of Buddhist pilgrimage, is referred alternatively as Mrigdava/ Mrigdaya, or by its full name Rishipattan Mrigdava in Sanskrit and Isipatan Migdaya in Pali. Mrigdava literally means deer forest while Migdaya indicates place offered to a deer as their share of "inheritance". Rishipatan/ Isipatan refers to a place where bodies of sages fell.