Buddha's relics influenced Indian politics & Constitution. Sarnath sermons to gold caskets
Monks and nuns traveled with relics and set up stupas wherever they halted. The 'Travelling Relics' exhibition at IIC by Himanshu Prabha Ray depicted their distribution all over India. Key Points
ThePrintHow Gujarat spread Buddhism—Devnimori dig gives us a mahastupa, inscribed casket, coins
Organic remains wrapped in silk cloth were discovered during the dig at Devnimori. Archaeologists agreed that these are probably the sacred remains of Gautama Buddha. Key Points
ThePrintForgotten ballads of Indian merchants
As per Buddhist lore, soon after he attained Buddhahood, Siddhartha Gautama was fed by two merchants. They said they could not be bhikku (monk), so Buddha encouraged them to become upasaka (worshippers) and build a stupa containing his relics. He gave them his hair and even designed the stupa, inverting his bowl over three layers of folded monk robes. The Jataka tales narrate tales of many wise, shrewd and ethical merchants who identified as Buddha-to-be. Key Points
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