| The Distribution of The Sacred Relics |
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The Distribution of The Sacred Relics After the spontaneous cremation of the Buddha's body, the relics left behind were collected and venerated in ceremony for a whole week. Meanwhile, the seven Kings from seven countries, such as Rajagaha, Vesali, Kapilavatthu. etc.. heard about the Parinibbana of the Buddha and marched towards Kusinara with (heir respective armies in order to get their share of the relics. Due to the persuasion of the Bramin Dona, who had been the revered teacher of the seven kings and the Malla princes, the relics were divided into eignt equal portions and distributed among the Malla princes and the eight kingdoms. These kings and princes enshrined the relics in Thupas for public reverence in their respective countries. The first Buddhist Council was held in Rajagaha by five hundred arahats headed by Maha Kassapa under the sponsorship of King Ajatasatthu. After the Council, Venerable Mahakassapa, foreseeing the danger to the Buddha's relics, advised King Ajatasattu to keep them in safety in a single place in Rajagaha. Then employing his supernormal power. Venerable Mahakassapa collected all the relics and placed them in a safe place in Rajagaha. When the third Buddhist Council was held in the year 235 Buddhist Era, the Great Emperor Asoka asked the head of the Samgha, Venerable Mahamoggaliputtatissa, the numerical extent of the Buddha's Teaihings. The Maha Thera answered that the Buddha's Teachings consist of 84000 dhammakkhandhas (dhamma groups). In veneration to the Buddha's Teachings, he ordered his ministers to build 84000 monasteries and 84000 thupas in 84000towns. The Maha Thera obtained the Buddha's relics from Rajagaha and let the emperor enshrine them in the thupas he had built. |