Q. . With reference to Sacred Relics of Buddha, consider the following statements;
1.His relics from the funeral pyre were collected and divided into eight shares.
2.The Mallas of Kushinagar cremated his body with ceremonies befitting a universal king.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Both the statements are correct.
At the age of 80, Buddha attained salvation in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district.
The Mallas of Kushinagar cremated his body with ceremonies befitting a universal king.
His relics from the funeral pyre were collected and divided into eight shares to be distributed among the Ajathsatrus of Magadha, the Licchavis of Vaishali, the Sakyas of Kapilavastu, Mallas of Kushinagar, Bullies of Allakappa, the Mallas of Pava, the Koliyas of Ramagrama and a Brahmana of Vethadipa. The purpose was to erect stupas over the sacred relics.
Stupas erected over the bodily relics of Buddha (Saririka stupas) are the earliest surviving Buddhist shrines.
It is also said that Ashoka (272–232 BC), being an ardent follower of Buddhis, opened up seven of these eight stupas and collected a major portion of the relics for enshrinement within 84,000 stupas built by him in an effort to popularize Buddhism as well as the cult of the stupas.
Source: PIB
