Gautama's Cremation

Back in February of 2001 there was a discussion between myself and Dr. Stephen Hodge (University of London) concerning the particulars of Bauddha-founder Gautama's cremation rites as preserved in Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the major legendary account.

In this lengthy Pali narrative text (which centres on the final days of the canon's chief protagonist's) Ananda, Gautama's cousin and personal attendant, inquires of his guru concerning how to cremate the body of a tathāgata. Gautama responds saying that 'it ought to be handled just as with the body of a deceased cakravartin (universal ruler),' that is,

'It is first wrapped round with new linen, and then with teased cotton wool; up to five hundred layers of linen and five hundred layers of cotton wool. When that is done, the body is placed in an iron oil vessel, which is enclosed in another iron vessel. Then the body is burned on a funeral pyre built of all kinds of perfumed woods.'

I was curious as to the effect this recipe would have on the body. Having had and still having next to no knowledge of Vedic crematory science, I got the impression that this was more like baking than reducing the body to ashes – assuming the body, doubly enclosed in iron skillets, would not be directly touched by flames. 'Would not,' I queried, 'the abundant mummy wraps function to absorb all the liquid and fat that the cadaver would exude when brought to extreme temperatures?'

Stephen responded as follows:

There are several factors one should consider here. First it would depend, I would think, on whether the containers were hermetically sealed – unlikely since the resulting pressures from the vaporization of fluids and fats would result in an explosion or at least a bursting of the seams of the containers. Allowing that they were sealed but not hermetically then the cremation would take place within the containers with reduced oxygen which results in carbonization – that's how charcoal is made – with some calcinations depending on how long heat is applied and to what temperature. Another point is the external heat of the fire – even if the body was not touched directly by the flames, they would possibly heat up the metal until it was red hot – the result would not exactly be baking. Also, allowing that the containers are not sealed, this amount of heat would first liquefy and then vaporize the fats and other liquids which would expand / run out and burn off. The wrappings you mention would also be carbonized. All this would seem to make it easier to retrieve substantial remains / relics. However it is questionable whether the Buddha was cremated in that manner since the traditional account of the allocation and distribution of the Buddha's remains seems to talk of handfuls of ashes although some substantial pieces of bone and teeth would have remained. In modern crematoria, whether gas, oil or electric, in the West, it takes about 45 mins to cremate the body and coffin but even then large pieces of bone are left over. These are then collected and put into a smaller retort / cylinder where they are subjected to 30 mins or so at a higher temperature to reduce them still further.

He explained nonetheless that "largish pieces of bone" still remain and that "the finishing touches are done" with an electric grinder. 'But to be conclusive,' and he ended his remarks, "perhaps a practical experiment" would be called for.

If time permits I hope to return and continue relating the rest of this discussion.

References

Hodge, Stephen. Re: cakravartin's cremation, Archives of Indology 7 Feb 2001 online posting.

Last Days of the Buddha: Maha-Parinibbana Sutta [Digha Nikaya 16] trans. from the Pali by Sister Vajira & Francis Story, revised edition. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1998 http://www.mahindarama.com/e-tipitaka/dn-16.htm.

Sritantra. cakravartin's cremation, Archives of Indology 7 Feb 2001 online posting.