England captain Andrew Strauss lifts the ICC Test Championship mace following his team's crushing win (Getty Images: Gareth Copley).
''Worst ever series lost in history for INDIA''
India, which needed 291 runs to make the hosts bat again, frustrated England during a fourth-wicket partnership of 144 between Tendulkar, who made 91, and Amit Mishra.
But when Mishra was out for a Test-best 84, it was the start of a collapse that saw India lose seven wickets for 21 runs on the way to 283 all out.
Off spinner Graeme Swann, at last presented with a pitch taking turn this series, did the bulk of the damage with 6 for 106 to the delight of the majority of a sell-out 23,500 crowd.
It was the first time England had swept a four-match series since a 4-0 home whitewash of the West Indies in 2004.
International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive Haroon Lorgat saluted a "clinical" England after presenting captain Andrew Strauss with the global governing body's mace for the world's top Test side.
"I know England were determined to be number one and through careful planning and a series of clinical performances, they have deservedly achieved their goal," Lorgat said.
"They were clearly the most consistent side in the world over the past few years as evidenced by their determination to complete their series victory here at The Oval."
Strauss added: "Becoming number one in the world was our stated ambition two-and-a-half years ago and even though we have achieved that objective, we will continue to look to build on this success."
England coach Andy Flower compared England's whitewash to the home Ashes triumph of two years ago as The Oval again provided the setting for the team's joyful celebrations.
"It reminds me of the Ashes in 2009, there's a similar atmosphere. It was maybe a bit of an anti-climax because we were 3-0 up but it's a great moment for them (the players)," Flower told Sky Sports.
"The Ashes are special for their own reasons and for the importance the English public and the Australian public give to it, but it's also something special to be playing India."
India resumed on 3 for on 129, still 162 runs shy of England's first innings 6 for 591 declared featuring Ian Bell's Test-best 235 and Kevin Pietersen's 175.
Tendulkar was 25 not out and Mishra 8 not out.
England, which had replaced India at the top of the ICC's Test Championship table with an innings and 242 run victory at Edgbaston last time out, endured a wicketless morning session.
Charmed life
But Tendulkar, whose previous best score this series was 56 in the second Test at Trent Bridge, should have been out for 70 when Alastair Cook at short leg dropped a bat-pad catch off Swann.
There was further frustration for Swann and England when Tendulkar was dropped by Prior on 85.
But Swann made the breakthrough an increasingly anxious England wanted when Mishra, playing for turn that never came, was bowled, having easily surpassed his previous Test-best of 50 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year.
It was another fine effort with the bat by Mishra who made 43 in a first innings 300 featuring Rahul Dravid's 146 not out after taking no wickets for a hugely expensive 170 runs with his leg-spinners.
Tendulkar though seemed set to complete his ton of tons.
But nine runs short the 38-year-old was lbw to seamer Tim Bresnan.
Australian umpire Rod Tucker took his time before raising his finger, with replays indicating the ball would have just clipped the top of leg stump.
Tendulkar, walked off to a standing ovation after his best score of the series, topping his 57 in the second Test at Trent Bridge. He batted for nearly four hours, facing 172 balls with 11 fours.
Wickets then tumbled in quick succession, with Suresh Raina lbw to Swann to complete a 42-ball pair before India captain MS Dhoni drove loosely at Stuart Broad, armed with the new ball and was well caught by Swann in the slips for three.
RP Singh was caught behind for a duck off Broad.
Swann then had Gautam Gambhir caught in the gully before ending the match by bowling last man Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.
Dhoni insisted his team's morale would remain intact.
That would be admirable given this comprehensive reverse where a lack of planning, repeated failures by a renowned top order and an inability to cope with injuries, as well as England's unbouted excellence, all counted against the tourists.
"It's important we stay together as a unit because the expectation levels are quite high," Dhoni said.
"It's about the team rising to the occasion together.
"That's the way ahead. We are not willing to surrender and we hope the coming years will be good."
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