Piprahwa: The Sakya Stupa Site
Archaeological findings provide strong evidence that the Sakyas constructed a stupa at Piprahwa to house the bodily remains of Gautama Buddha.
Archaeological Evidence at Piprahwa
- Excavations at the Piprahwa site in Uttar Pradesh, India, uncovered a large stupa.
- Inside this stupa, a relic casket was found.
- The casket contained inscriptions that are crucial evidence. These inscriptions suggest the relics belonged to the Buddha and were enshrined by the Sakya clan.
- This discovery aligns with historical and textual accounts regarding the distribution of Buddha's relics after his passing.
Based on this significant archaeological evidence, Piprahwa is identified as the location where the Sakyas built a stupa over the bodily remains of Gautama Buddha.