The Buddha Entering Parinirvana

The Buddha taught in this world for forty-nine years and expounded the Dharma at over three hundred assemblies. He led many sentient beings to liberation, and created the conditions of liberation for others. At the age of eighty, the Buddha entered parinirvana, and cremated himself with the true fire of samadhi. Following the cremation, his relics were taken by the Mallas clan of Kusinagara. The other kings refused to accept this, and each sent armies to attack Kusinagara in order to seize the Buddha's relics. The dispute was finally resolved with the help of a Brahmin, who divided the relics into eight portions. Each kingdom then built stupas to enshrine the relics so that homage could be paid to them.