Mahaparinibbana Sutta
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The Mahāparinibbāna Sutta is a text in the Sutta Pitaka, the Buddhist basket of the Buddha's teachings. It describes the Buddha's last journey, his final teachings and his passing away (parinibbāna) at Kusinagara. It is an important source for how Buddhists remembered his death. It also shows how the stupa, a burial mound for relics, became a sacred monument.
Example
In this text, his disciple Ānanda asks what should be done with the Buddha's remains. The Buddha replies that a thūpa (stupa) should be built at a place where four roads meet, so that people can honour it. The text also records his advice: "Be lamps unto yourselves."
Don't confuse with
- Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra: this is a later Mahāyāna text with a similar name and different doctrines. The Pali Mahāparinibbāna Sutta belongs to the early Sutta Pitaka.
Related concepts
- Gautama Buddha
- Sakya clan
- Kapilavastu
- Lumbini
- Great Departure
- Bodh Gaya
- Bodhi tree
- Mahabodhi Temple
- Kushinagar
- Piprahwa relics