Cremated bones of Buddha

Cremated bones of  Buddha	Cremated bones of  Buddha

RELICS ENSURED THAT the presence of the Buddha is perpetuated after the passing of the Buddha. They are generally fragments of cremated bones. However, some relics can even appear pearl-like, translucent and multi-coloured.

Relics were always kept in monasteries, where they were enshrined in stupas. For instance, the great stupa at Sanchi, which contains relics of the Buddha, is set in the middle of a large monastic complex. A similar arrangement is found in Sri Lanka, where some of the relics finally came to rest, the most celebrated being the tooth relic at Kandy (see: Buddha's Tooth Relic). It is said that about forty pieces of Buddha tooth relics were distributed to different parts of the world. Myanmar is another country that's popularly known to enshrine Buddha tooth and body relics, alongside with relics of Buddha's disciples.

In China, finger bone of the Buddha was discovered in the 1980s in the forgotten crypt in the Fainen temple (Famensi) in Shaanxi province. Renowned as one of the four places in China with Buddha relics, the Famen temple enjoyed direct imperial patronage, especially in the ninth century.

Before the first century, relics were a key instrument in the spread of Buddhism in helping to establish new centres of religious significance. The practice of venerating relics and images has played a central role even in Buddhist traditions that strongly emphasize that Gautama Buddha was a human being who died and is no longer able to aid his followers.

According to Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha left 40 tooth relics to future generations to be worshipped. Among them, four tooth relics were conveyed to the Dragon King, the lord of the Nat Devas (Dhajia Min), Kandra (now Sri Lanka) and Kalika (now China). The rest of the 36 tooth relics were scattered to the present human world.