Chapter 31: The Encoffining of the Buddha

After the Buddha’s Parinirvana, his disciples and lay followers performed solemn rites, enshrining the body in a coffin. This episode is recorded in Buddhist texts and depicted in Gandharan reliefs.

Gandharan Features

• Coffin design: rectangular and monumental, often decorated with lotus motifs, symbolizing purity and immortality.
• Buddha’s presence: some reliefs portray his likeness on the lid, suggesting that though he has passed, his spiritual presence endures.
• Disciples and rulers: monks like Ananda stand vigil, while kings or patrons are shown paying homage.
• Ritual offerings: incense, garlands, or attendants enhance the solemnity of the scene.

Unlike the serene Parinirvana scene, the “Encoffining” emphasizes ceremony and collective memory. The richly carved coffin underscores the Buddha’s exalted status and the importance of funerary ritual in early Buddhism.

The encoffining marks the transition from the Buddha as a living teacher to a sacred presence embodied in relics. It is both a moment of grief and the beginning of a new devotional tradition.