Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c15.3

c15.3

The Moriyas of Pipphalivana¹ and the Bulis of Allakappa² were among the claimants for shares in the relics of the Buddha on the ground that they were themselves, like the Exalted One, Kṣatriyas. The Bulis got the eighth portion of the relics and erected a *stūpa* enshrining their portion, at their capital town and celebrated the event with a feast.³ According to the text, the Moriyas arrived after the relics had already been distributed among the eight earlier claimants, and they had to be contended with the embers (*aṅgāraṁ*). They likewise honoured these remains by building a *stūpa* over them and celebrating a feast.⁴ This story appears to be a little suspicious. Could it be that the story of the Moriyas' late arrival was interpolated at the time of Aśoka in order to link the royal family more closely with the Buddha? There is no mention of the Bhaggas of Suṁsumāragiri, and the Kālāmas of Kesaputta among those who claimed a share in the relics. This might suggest either their indifference towards Buddhism and its founder or simply that they lived too far from Kusinārā. Nevertheless, their existence is attested by some other Pāli texts. The Buddha and the Venerable Mahā Moggallāna are reported to have stayed at Suṁsumāragiri, the chief town of the Bhaggas, in the course of their wanderings.¹ The Kālāmas of Kesaputta are also explicitly mentioned in the *Aṅguttara Nikāya* and its commentary.²