Buddha preaching the law (Dharm-Chakra Pravartan Mudra) is related to:

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Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
The phrase "Buddha preaching the law," also known as *Dharmachakra Pravartan*, literally means 'Turning the Wheel of Dharma' and refers to the Buddha's very first sermon. This momentous and foundational event in Buddhist history took place at the Deer Park in **Sarnath**, near Varanasi, after the Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya. Sarnath is thus the sacred geographical and spiritual center where the Buddhist Sangha was first established and the core doctrine was delivered. The most celebrated and iconic representation of the Buddha in the *Dharm-Chakra Pravartan Mudra* (the gesture of preaching or teaching) is the famous seated Buddha image unearthed at Sarnath, belonging to the refined Gupta period, which perfectly embodies this historical and artistic association.

The incorrect option is 2:
Bharhut is an ancient Buddhist site famous for its Great Stupa, primarily dating back to the Shunga period (c. 2nd century BCE). The art at Bharhut is characteristic of an early, aniconic phase of Buddhist sculpture, meaning the Buddha himself is not shown in human form but is represented only through symbols such as a throne, a Bodhi tree, or the Dharma wheel. While the Dharma wheel is present in its reliefs as a symbol of the Dharma, the site is known primarily for its extensive narrative Jataka panels and is not the location of the First Sermon.

The incorrect option is 3:
Sanchi, particularly its Great Stupa in Madhya Pradesh, is renowned for its beautifully carved *toranas* or gateways, which date primarily to the Shunga and Satavahana periods. The extensive carvings on the Sanchi gateways depict Jataka tales and key scenes from the life of the Buddha, often in great detail. However, Sanchi is not the site where the First Sermon was delivered. Furthermore, Sanchi's early sculptural tradition, like Bharhut's, initially relies on symbolic representations for the Buddha rather than the direct, iconic human form in the specific teaching gesture.

The incorrect option is 4:
Amaravati, located in Andhra Pradesh, was a prominent center of Buddhist art, flourishing under the Satavahana and Ikshvaku dynasties. The Amaravati school of art is distinctive for its dynamic, narrative, and highly fluid style, featuring slender and expressive human figures carved in low relief. While its panels depict various episodes of the Buddha's life and enlightenment, the key historical event of the First Sermon and the famous, highly formalized iconic sculpture in *Dharm-Chakra Pravartan Mudra* are not the primary artistic hallmarks of Amaravati, which focuses more on elaborate narrative friezes.