Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s1.17

c12.s1.17

But Ānanda out of his overpowering devotion was impervious to this suggestion of the Teacher, and he repeated the question—"How should we honour the body of the Tathāgata ?" The Buddha knowing the devout heart of Ānanda, melted and replied: "As they do for the remains of a Chakravartin King, so Ānanda they should do for the remains of the Tathāgata. At the four cross-roads, similar to the Stūpa they raise for the Chakravartin, should they raise a Stūpa for the Tathāgata.¹