The relics of Sri Sariputta and Mahamoggallana Arahans, the two chief disciples of Lord Buddha, which are returning to Indian soil on January the Fourteenth, were discovered by General Sir Alexander Cunningham in the third stupa on Sanchi Hill in the year 1851. From the inscriptions on the caskets and other evidences which accorded with the Buddhistic accounts of their interment it was known at once that these relics were indeed the remains of the two great Arahans whose names have been held in reverence by the entire Buddhist world for the past two thousand five hundred years. The white steatite caskets in which they were found bore inside their lids the initial letters ‘Sa’ and ‘Ma’ in Brahmi characters, signifying ‘Sariputta’ and ‘Mahamoggallana’ and Sariputta’s casket also contained a fragment of sandalwood, confirming the Buddhist records that the funeral pyre had been on ‘candana’ or sandal. Another interesting discovery was seven beads of pearl, lapis lazuli and crystal, representing the Seven Precious Objects that were always deposited with holy relics.
Similarly, two other caskets containing small pieces of bones of these two chief disciples were discovered in stupas Satadhara, a village close to Sanchi. In this case the names ‘Sariputta’ and ‘Mahamoggallana’ were found inscribed fully on the lids, thus removing all doubts regarding the identity of the two saints. The two caskets which will be presented to the Maha Bodhi Society of India by the Hon’ble Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru are actually these two.
All these caskets were taken to England, where they reposed in the Victoria and Albert Museum until the year 1935, when the British Maha Bodhi Society decided that an effort should be made to get them restored to the Buddhist world. A deputation of representatives of the said Society, led by the Venerable Ananda Kausalyayana, who was then in charge of the London Centre, approached the Curator of the Museum, Mr. Campbell, with that object. The Curator was sympathetic, but had no power to act in the matter without the consent of the British Government then in office. The Museum authorities, however, permitted a party of Buddhists to worship the relics in the Museum, and this was done with traditional Buddhist ceremonies on the Full Moon Day of November 1935.
There matters rested until 1938, when another attempt was made to obtain possession of the relics by myself, this time through the Government of India and with the support of several other Buddhist associations. The request was then granted and the Government consented to hand over the relics to the Maha Bodhi Society of India to be enshrined in the newly-constructed Buddhist Temple in New Delhi.
In the meantime, His Highness the Nawab of Bhopal and his Government very generously offered every possible assistance to the Society in building a worthy Temple at Sanchi itself to enshrine these relics. His Highness also offered a generous personal donation of Rs. 25,000/- and free grant of land, granite, timber etc., and the Temple is now under construction.
Before the Relics were restored to India, I suggested that they should be taken to Ceylon, to give Sinhalese Buddhists an opportunity of worshipping them. Before the arrangements could be completed, however, war broke out, and because of the risks involved in transport it was agreed that the transfer should be postponed until the end of hostilities. When the war ended correspondence with the authorities was resumed, and in January 1947 Mr. Daya Hewavitarne flew to London and there received the Relics on behalf of the Government of India and the Maha Bodhi Society. The historic event of the handing over of the precious Relics took place on February 20th 1947.
By agreement with the respective Government of India the Relics were then taken to Ceylon and Burma for exposition. Lakhs of Buddhists came to do reverence to them. The total number of devotees who paid homage to the Sacred Relics during the forty-eight days of exposition at Colombo Museum amounted to over two million and fifty thousand. These multitudes of worshippers Buddhist and non-Buddhist alike, showed exemplary patience and orderliness throughout the proceedings. Their excellent behavior, indeed, earned the commendation of the Inspector General of Police of Ceylon, who said that these pilgrims were peerless in patience and moral excellence and that the Police were unnecessary where behavior was so beautiful. The spirit of reverence and kindliness that pervaded the vast crowds was the most impressive proof of their devotion to the memory of the two great Saints.
As Buddhists, keenly appreciative of the religious and historical significance of these events, we are deeply indebted to many people for their help and co- operation in making the receptions and expositions, both here and in Burma and Ceylon, a success. The Governments of India, Burma and Ceylon have rendered great service to the world in promoting the celebrations, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru has earned our gratitude for the important part he has taken in receiving the Relics on behalf of the Nation. Provincial Governments and many influential people have rendered us great assistance. And I wish to take this opportunity of publicly thanking all those who have helped us in our task of restoring the sacred remains to their original resting place.
Who were these two exalted Arahants, Ven. Sariputt and Moggallana, and what do they stand for the annals of Buddhism? The detailed accounts given in Buddhist Scriptures furnish us with a very complete picture of their characters and achievements. The were sons of wealthy Brahmin families in the region now known as Bihar, and they had been closest friends from childhood. While still youths they formed an ardent resolve to abandon the world and seek the highest truth of deliverance. First, they placed themselves as pupils under the sage Sanjaya, but his instruction failed to satisfy them and they left him to pursue their quest elsewhere. They parted and wandered from teacher to teacher, until one day Sariputta met with a disciple of Buddha, one Assaji.
Immediately on hearing a stanza of the Dharma Sariputta realised that his spiritual quest was about to reach its fulfilment. He took the good news to Moggallana, who also became a convert to the Buddha’s doctrine, and together they went to Buddha and received ordination from Him.
From that time forth they were known as the Buddha’s Chief Disciples, and sat on either side of Him in the assembly of Bhikkhus, Sariputta on His right hand and Moggallana on His left as He sat facing east. When the Relics were discovered, it was found that those of Sariputta were on the South and Moggallana on the North, thus preserving in death the same relative positions they had occupied in life on either side of Buddha.
Buddha Himself declared that the wisdom and insight of Sariputta were second only to His own, and Moggallana understanding second only to Sariputta’s. Both the Arahants had great power of teaching the Dharma, Sariputta being able to expound the doctrine with the same eloquence and depth of meaning as the Buddha, while Moggallana excelled in the exercise of riddhi or super-normal powers. Throughout their long lives they held one another in the greatest affection and esteem, and each praised the qualities of the other.
Of Sariputta Moggallana said:
“Yonder behold, where Sariputta goes
So nobly fair! Emancipated he
By Contemplation rapt, and purity.
And all his inner self is well composed.
Exempt from moral scathe, all fetters broke,
In higher knowledge versed, slayer of death,
Worthy that men should bring him offerings
Incomparable field of great reward!”
And Sariputta said of Moggallana:
“Hail thou Humanity’s Aristocrat!
Glory to thee, thou highest among men!
Perished for thee are the intoxicants,
And Thou, O Lord, most worthy art of gifts!
In honor held by men and gods alike,
Uprisen as the conqueror of death,
As lotus from the water takes no smear,
So thou in changing world dost not adhere.”
As they wandered for upwards of forty years with the Buddha, teaching His Doctrine all over India, their renown spread far and wide. When the Buddha’s son, Rahula was ordained, Sariputta was appointed his preceptor and Moggallana his teacher, and Buddha further entrusted the affairs of the Sangha to their charge. It was they who kept order in the congregation of monks and settled the points of dispute that sometimes arose concerning discipline. On the occasion the Buddha’s cousin, Devadatta, seceded from the Sangha taking with him five hundred Bhikkhus, Sariputta and Moggallana were entrusted with the mission of bringing back the errant monks, which they accomplished successfully. From this it can be seen that the trust and honor reposed in them by Buddha was of a very special kind, and that He singled them out for unique distinction followers. This is confirmed by the warm praise He bestowed on them. among His
Besides being noted for discrimination and intellectual power, Sariputta was further celebrated for r great patience and humility. A strict disciplinarian himself, he accepted with meekness the correction of a newly-ordained novice who pointed out to him that he was not wearing his robe correctly, and on another occasion when an enemy dealt him a severe blow from behind, he made no was overcome with remorse and begged the Saint’s complaint. His assailant forgiveness, which was then freely granted.
Sariputta and Ven. Moggallana, who were both older than Buddha, died within two weeks of each other when the Buddha was in His eightieth year. A few months later the Buddha also passed into Parinirvana.
I have had time to give only a brief history of these two great personalities, but there are many more intimate details of their lives given in the Buddhist Scriptures. During their lives they were held up by Buddha as examples to all, and their story is no less inspiring to us of the present day. Peace will come to the world only when the hearts of men are at peace. The lives of these Saints give us proof and assurance that it is possible to establish that inner Kingdom of Righteousness here on earth that indeed the kingdom of heaven lies within us, in the life of purity, harmlessness and universal compassion taught by the Buddha. Now, after many years, the holy body-relics of the Arahants are returning to the land that gave them birth. They are returning to a free India, bringing with them the hope of a new dawn that lies within the power of each of us to help to bring about. Only recently a saint of modern India, Mahatma Gandhi, passed into history, leaving with us a message of similar import. It is as though these great Timeless Ones linked hands across the gulf of centuries. Spiritual truth knows no boundaries of space or time: it is eternally existent in the hearts of men, and is the divine birthright of each one of us. Let us cease to be blinded by self-interest, greed and by hatred. When we have cast aside such unrealities, as did these great Saints, we enter into the deathless realm where conflict and sorrow are no more, and by our own individual effort, be it great or small, the whole of humanity is raised a step higher in its spiritual ascent.
The memory of these exalted Saints brings us comfort, but it is also a challenge to the spirit. Let us strive earnestly and tirelessly to be worthy of their example, and to bring back to the world the message of the noble Buddhist Teachers, even as we have brought back their bodily remains, for the good and lasting welfare of humanity.
May all beings attain happiness. May all be at peace.
(A Broadcast talk given from the Calcutta studio of the All-India Radio on the 10th January, 1949)
(The Maha Bodhi Vol. 57, No. 1-3; Jan.-Mar. 1949; Pages (52-56)
