THE INAUGURATION OF BUDDHA RELICS DURING THE DVARAVATI PERIOD

Abstract

The Saririka Cetiya , or the Dathu Ceti , is a special stupa which enshrines Buddha relics . After the Buddha’s cremation , the Drona Brahmins divided Buddha’s corporeal relics into different parts so that various kings and Brahmins could enshrine the relics within stupas in their homeland .

The inauguration procedure of Buddha’s corporeal relics is an important cultural aspect of Buddhist texts , from different places and periods . These texts contain passages related to local history , linking the lands mentioned in the texts to the “ Jambudipa ” .

Archaeological evidence regarding the installation procedure can be found in India , Sri Lanka , Myanmar , and other Buddhist countries including Thailand . The inauguration of Buddha’s corporeal relics during the Dvaravati period is evident in two archaeological sites : Stupa no . 1 at Ku Bua in Ratchaburi and the Phra That Na Dune stupa in Maha Sarakham .

In each of the stupas the relic chamber was discovered beneath the ground floor at the core of the stupa , reflecting the original practices carried out in India and Sri Lanka . Symbols relating to Buddhism and Hinduism were also found .

The artistic style of the reliquaries suggests influence from Northern Indian , Southern Indian and Sri Lankan Buddhist traditions , which probably entered the Dvaravati Kingdom through the Pyu Kingdom located in present - day Myanmar .

The inauguration of Buddha’s corporeal relics during the Dvaravati period was the starting point of the Thai inaugurations which continue to evolve in later periods .