An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.1

v1.c17.s8.1

According to Buddhist texts the corporeal relics of Buddha, collected from the funeral pyre at KUSINAGARA where he attained his *nirvāṇa*, were divided into eight shares and were distributed among king Ajātaśatru of Magadha, the Licchavis of VAIŚĀLĪ, the Śākyas of KAPILAVASTU, the Mallas of KUŚINAGARA, the Mallas of Pāvā, the Bulis of Allakappa, the Koliyas of Rāmagrāma and a Brāhmaṇa of Veṭhadīpa for erecting *stūpas* over these bone relics. Two more *stūpas* came into existence immediately after his death: one was erected by Droṇa over the urn in which the bones had been collected and the other was constructed by the Moriyas of Pipphalivana over the charcoal collected from the funeral pyre. It is stated that Aśoka (c. 273-36 BC) opened up seven of these eight *śarīrika stūpas* (*stūpas* over bodily remains) and collected major portions of the relics for enshrinement within innumerable *stūpas* built by him.