Kusinara
Death of the Buddha
Ends and Beginings
At the age of 81 The Buddha was still traveling across the countryside. while near his birth place Shakyamuni became tired and took rest in Kusinara with his longtime friend Ananda. Fearing his death was near he took a meal prepared by a local blacksmith which included some meat. He did not let the rest of his party partake in the meat as it was sinful. Afterward he claimed the meat was bad which made him more ill. Within a few days he had died with his followers surrounding him. His remains were cremated and prepared to be put in a stupa when representatives from the eight kingdoms he passed through wanted a portion of the relics for their countries.
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This site was created by Dave Sexton at the NEH Summer Institute "Literatures, Religions, and Arts of the Himalayan Region," held at the College of the Holy Cross, Summer 2011
