KUSHINAGER CITY GUIDE
It was in Kusinara (the modern Kasia,
known in Sanskrit as Kushinagara) toward evening, and, on a couch between two
sal trees in the park Upavattana of the Mallas, that he "laid himself down
on his right side, with one leg resting on the other, mindful and
self-possessed", saying
"Decay
is inherent in all things". This was
the full-moon day of the month of Vesakha (May). A week later, his body was
cremated by the Mallas in Kusinara.
A dispute over the remains of the Buddha arose
between the delegates of rulers of several kingdoms, such as Magadha, Vesali,
and Kapilavasthu. It was settled by a venerable old Brahmin named Dona on the
basis that they should not quarrel over the relics of one who preached peace.
With common consent, the relics were then divided into eight portions to the
satisfaction of all and stupas were built over these relics.
The
passing way by Buddha at Kushinager provided not only the grand finale to
depiction of the story of the great teacher but also created a new architectural
form in India – the stupa - entombing the relics of Buddha and his leading
disciples, The stupa can be described as the earliest mausoleum in India.