Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.482

c6.482

The Mallas of Kuśinārā had their santhāgāra or Council-hall where all matters, political or religious, were discussed. The Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta of the Dīgha Nikāya mentions a set of officers called Purisas among the Mallas of Kuśinārā, who are supposed to be a class of subordinate servants, according to Rhys Davids (Buddhist India, p. 21). There was a Mallian shrine called Makutabandhana to the east of Kuśinārā, where the dead body of the Buddha was brought for cremation. When the Buddha felt that his last moment was fast approaching, he sent Ānanda with a message to the Mallas of Kuśinārā who were then assembled in their Council-hall to discuss some public affairs. On receipt of the news they hurried to the Śāla-grove where the Buddha was. As soon as the Buddha passed away, they met together in their Council-hall to devise means for honouring the earthly remains of the Master in a suitable manner. They treated the remains of the Tathāgata like those of a Cakravartīrāja. They then erected a stūpa over their own share of Buddha’s relics and celebrated a feast.