The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and Other Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archaeology c9.47

c9.47

The narratives of the death of Buddha assert that after his cremation eight kings or ruling clans shared his ashes, and that they deposited their several portions under as many stûpas. We see no reason for disbelieving tradition on this point : the important thing is not at times to confuse these first eight sanctuaries with the historical « eight grand caityas » (²). We know, indeed, for certain that eight towns of Madhyadeça had finally divided among themselves, not the relics, but the legend, of Buddha. In their immediate neighbourhood were eight specially holy places, supposed to preserve the vestiges of the eight principal miracles of the Master. This implies that they formed as many centres of attraction for pilgrims, the organized exploitation of whom — one of the few industries which still survive in India — must have constituted an appreciable source of income. It may easily be imagined that the definite choice of scenes and sites was not accomplished without rivalries