This event
is of recent occurrence; but in all the succession from that time till
now, there has always been a Sramanera head of the establishment.
[Footnote 1: The bones of the human body are supposed to consist of
84,000 atoms, and hence the legend of Asoka's wish to build 84,000
topes, one over each atom of Sakyamuni's skeleton.]
CHAPTER XXIV
~Where Buddha Renounced the World~
East from here four yojanas, there is the place where the heir-apparent
sent back Chandaka, with his white horse; and there also a tope was
erected.
Four yojanas to the east from this, the travellers came to the Charcoal
tope, where there is also a monastery.
Going on twelve yojanas, still to the east, they came to the city of
Kusanagara, on the north of which, between two trees, on the bank of the
Nairanjana river, is the place where the World-honored one, with his
head to the north, attained to pan-nirvana and died. There also are the
places where Subhadra, [1] the last of his converts, attained to Wisdom
and became an Arhat; where in his coffin of gold they made offerings to
the World-honored one for seven days, where the Vajrapani laid aside his
golden club, and where the eight kings divided the relics of the burnt
body: at all these places were built topes and monasteries, all of which
are now existing.
In the city the inhabitants are few and far between, comprising only the
families belonging to the different societies of monks.
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