Which of the following statements with regard to the Mahaparinirvana of Gautama Buddha is/are correct? 1. Gautama Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at the age of eighty at Kushinagar in approximately 483 BCE. 2. Following his passing, his mortal remains were cremated by the Mallas of Kushinagara with funeral ceremonies reserved for a Universal Monarch. Select the answer using the code given below: |ForumIAS

[A] 1 only

[B] 2 only

[C] Both 1 and 2

[D] Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Notes:

Detailed Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: According to traditional Buddhist chronology, the Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in 483 BCE (or 486 BCE by alternative traditions) at Kushinagar (modern Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh).
Statement 2 is correct: As recorded in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta of the Digha Nikaya, the Mallas of Kushinagar honored the Buddha’s body with royal ceremonies, music, garlands, and cremation rituals identical to those accorded to a Chakravartin (Universal King), after which his relics were divided among eight contemporary powers.