Sakyamuni’s remains [Photo/Xinhua]

A monk holds a gold and silver mini-coffin which contains Sakyamuni’s remains to the Qixia Temple in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province on June 12, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

Monks hold a ceremony to welcome Sakyamuni’s remains at the Qixia Temple in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province on June 12, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

Monks hold a ceremony to welcome Sakyamuni’s remains at the Qixia Temple in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province on June 12, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

Honored guests come close to see Sakyamuni’s remains at the Qixia Temple in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province on June 12, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANJING - Chinese Buddhist monks and archaeologists revealed what they believed to be top part of the skull of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, Saturday morning in east China’s Jiangsu Province.

The object, taken out for the first time around 9 am from a miniature gold coffin nestled inside a silver one, was part of Buddha’s parietal bone, said Master Chuan Yin, president of the Buddhist Association of China, after attending the worshipping ceremony held in Qixia Temple in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.

The bone, irregular and light brown, looked like a small rock. “It is full of cell-like cavities, just like a honeycomb,” said Hua Guorong, deputy head of Nanjing City Museum.

“Our findings conform with the descriptions of the parietal bone in historical records,” said Master Xue Cheng, vice president of the association, adding the bone was hugely sacred for Buddhists.

Besides Sakyamuni’s remains, ten sacred pieces of remains of other Buddhas were also found in another gold and silver mini-coffin.

All the relics had been enshrined at Qixia Temple by 108 eminent Buddhist monks from the Chinese mainland, Macao and Taiwan. The relics would be open to believers at the temple for one month, Hua said.

To ensure the safety of the invaluable treasures, Saturday’s activities were conducted under heavy security, as well the indoor temperature was kept stable at 20 degrees Celsius and humidity between 55 to 60 percent, he said.

The parietal bone of Sakyamuni, allegedly recovered from the cremation ash of Sakyamuni, had been stored in a miniature pagoda named the Pagoda of King Asoka unearthed two years ago in an underground shrine built in 1011 under the former Changgan Temple of Nanjing.

The palace was found when archaeologists began excavating the ruins of the Grand Bao’en Temple of Nanjing built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD).

In July 2008, archaeologists found a stele in the palace, the inscription on it said the palace preserved a “Seven-Treasure Pagoda of King Asoka” containing gold and silver coffins with Sakyamuni’s parietal bone and relics of other Buddhas inside.

One month later, an iron case containing a pagoda was unearthed from the palace. In November 2008, archaeologists removed the pagoda from the case and found two mini-coffins.

It is said that 2,500 years ago, Sakyamuni’s disciples recovered one parietal bone, four teeth, two collar bones and 84,000 particles of relics from the cremation ash of Sakyamuni, according to Lu Jianfu, a senior official with the association.

Asoka, an Indian emperor (273 BC - 232 BC), allegedly collected all the parts of Sakyamuni’s remains, stored them in pagoda-like shrines, and sent them to different parts of the world.

The pagoda in Nanjing is believed to be one of tens of thousands of “pagodas of King Asoka” that contain Sakyamuni’s remains.

The four-layer, 1.21-m-high and 0.42-m-wide pagoda is allegedly the largest of its kind unearthed in China.

According to Tang Dynasty (618-907) Buddhist records, China had 19 pagodas of King Asoka holding Sakyamuni’s relics. To date, it is believed seven of the pagodas have been found in different parts of the country.

Ruupa  

The third reality or paramattha dhamma is ruupa, matter or material form. In its analysis of matter the Abhidhamma recognizes twenty-eight kinds of material phenomena. Four of these are called primary, twenty-four secondary. The secondary kinds are dependant on the primary.

The four primary elements (cattaari mahaa bhuutaani)

These are metaphorically referred to under their ancient names but signify distinct properties of matter:

1.   The Earth element (pa.thavi dhaatu) = solidity

2.   The Water element (aapo dhaatu) = adhesion

3.   The Fire element (tejo dhaatu) = heat

4.   The Wind element (vaayo dhaatu) = motion

There is no unit of matter that does not contain these four elements in varying proportions. The preponderance of one element over the other three gives the material object its main characteristic.

The solid element gives consistency to matter varying from hardness to softness. The more predominant the solid element, the firmer the object. This is also the element of extension by virtue of which objects occupy space. It has the function of supporting the other material phenomena.

The adhesion element has a cohesive function. It holds the particles of matter together and prevents them from scattering. It predominates in liquids because, unlike solids, liquids unite when brought together. This adhesion element is intangible.

The heat element accounts for an object’s temperature. An object is hot or cold depending on the amount of heat element. This element has the function of maturing or vitalizing. It accounts for preservation and decay.

The motion element imparts motion and causes expansion and contraction.

In the Mahaa Raahulovaada Sutta (MN 62) the Buddha explains these four elements in concrete terms to his son, the Venerable Raahula. He says:

“The earth element may be internal (i.e., referable to an individual) or it may be external. Regarding the internal, whatever is hard, solid, or derived therefrom, such as hair of the head, hair of the body, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, and various organs, is the earth element. Whatever is an internal earth element and whatever is an external earth element are just earth element.

“The water element may be internal or external. Regarding the internal, whatever is liquid and derived therefrom, such as bile, phlegm, pus, and blood is the water element. Whatever is an internal water element and whatever is an external water element are just water element.

“The fire element may be internal or external. Regarding the internal, whatever is heat, warmth, and derived therefrom, such as that by which one is vitalized, consumed, or burnt up, and that by which the ingested food is digested, this is the fire element. Whatever is an internal fire element and whatever is an external fire element are just fire element.

“The wind element may be internal or external. Regarding the internal, whatever is motion, wind, and derived therefrom, such as the winds going up and down, winds in the belly, winds that shoot across the limbs, inbreathing and outbreathing, is the wind element. Whatever is an internal wind element and whatever is an external wind element are just wind element.”

— MN 62

In this sutta the Buddha also describes the space element (aakaasa dhaatu) which, he says, may likewise be internal or external: “Regarding the internal, whatever is space, spacious and derived therefrom, such as the different orifices and cavities in the body, is the space element. Whatever is the internal space element and whatever is the external space element are just space element.”

It will be noted that in each instance the Buddha pointed out a fundamental identity between the internal and the external elements. The significance of this will be discussed later.

FIFA World Cup at South Africa.

South Africa 2010 Match Schedule

Matches

Group A

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
1	11/06 19:30	Johannesburg - JSC		South Africa	Preview	Mexico
2	12/06 00:00	Cape Town		Uruguay	Background	France
17	17/06 00:00	Tshwane/Pretoria		South Africa	Background	Uruguay
18	18/06 00:00	Polokwane		France	Background	Mexico
33	22/06 19:30	Rustenburg		Mexico	Background	Uruguay
34	22/06 19:30	Mangaung/Bloemfontein		France	Background	South Africa

Group B

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
3	12/06 19:30	Johannesburg - JEP		Argentina	Preview	Nigeria
4	12/06 17:00	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		Korea Republic	Preview	Greece
19	17/06 19:30	Mangaung/Bloemfontein		Greece	Background	Nigeria
20	17/06 17:00	Johannesburg - JSC		Argentina	Background	Korea Republic
35	23/06 00:00	Durban		Nigeria	Background	Korea Republic
36	23/06 00:00	Polokwane		Greece	Background	Argentina

Group C

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
5	13/06 00:00	Rustenburg		England	Background	USA
6	13/06 17:00	Polokwane		Algeria	Background	Slovenia
22	18/06 19:30	Johannesburg - JEP		Slovenia	Background	USA
23	19/06 00:00	Cape Town		England	Background	Algeria
37	23/06 19:30	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		Slovenia	Background	England
38	23/06 19:30	Tshwane/Pretoria		USA	Background	Algeria

Group D

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
7	14/06 00:00	Durban		Germany	Background	Australia
8	13/06 19:30	Tshwane/Pretoria		Serbia	Background	Ghana
21	18/06 17:00	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		Germany	Background	Serbia
24	19/06 19:30	Rustenburg		Ghana	Background	Australia
39	24/06 00:00	Johannesburg - JSC		Ghana	Background	Germany
40	24/06 00:00	Nelspruit		Australia	Background	Serbia

Group E

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
9	14/06 17:00	Johannesburg - JSC		Netherlands	Background	Denmark
10	14/06 19:30	Mangaung/Bloemfontein		Japan	Background	Cameroon
25	19/06 17:00	Durban		Netherlands	Background	Japan
26	20/06 00:00	Tshwane/Pretoria		Cameroon	Background	Denmark
43	25/06 00:00	Rustenburg		Denmark	Background	Japan
44	25/06 00:00	Cape Town		Cameroon	Background	Netherlands

Group F

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
11	15/06 00:00	Cape Town		Italy	Background	Paraguay
12	15/06 17:00	Rustenburg		New Zealand	Background	Slovakia
27	20/06 17:00	Mangaung/Bloemfontein		Slovakia	Background	Paraguay
28	20/06 19:30	Nelspruit		Italy	Background	New Zealand
41	24/06 19:30	Johannesburg - JEP		Slovakia	Background	Italy
42	24/06 19:30	Polokwane		Paraguay	Background	New Zealand

Group G

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
13	15/06 19:30	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		Côte d’Ivoire	Background	Portugal
14	16/06 00:00	Johannesburg - JEP		Brazil	Background	Korea DPR
29	21/06 00:00	Johannesburg - JSC		Brazil	Background	Côte d’Ivoire
30	21/06 17:00	Cape Town		Portugal	Background	Korea DPR
45	25/06 19:30	Durban		Portugal	Background	Brazil
46	25/06 19:30	Nelspruit		Korea DPR	Background	Côte d’Ivoire

Group H

Match	Date - Time	Venue			Results
15	16/06 17:00	Nelspruit		Honduras	Background	Chile
16	16/06 19:30	Durban		Spain	Background	Switzerland
31	21/06 19:30	Nelson Mandela Bay/Port Elizabeth		Chile	Background	Switzerland
32	22/06 00:00	Johannesburg - JEP		Spain	Background	Honduras
47	26/06 00:00	Tshwane/Pretoria		Chile	Background	Spain
48	26/06 00:00	Mangaung/Bloemfontein		Switzerland	Background	Honduras

BANGALORE: The street corner conversation have become lively over the past one week, much of it speculating over the fortunes of soccer heros in the FIFA World Cup started in South Africs on Friday.

It is more likely that such analysis has peaked in the small Gowthampuram area in Ulsoor, with passions running deep in the young and the old alike.

“Brazil is the natural favourite for us in the area. However, the younger generation will root for their heroes representing different countries.” S.Suresh, who coaches young talent at the Gauthamapuram Football Club, told.

That statue !

A festive atmosphere prevails here. Nicknamed Mini Brazil, this modest neighbourhood, famous for its Pele statue - the only known for a footballer in the city - has contributed several State and National players down the decades.

Children here take to football like children in other areas areas picking up cricket bat.”Eight players in the current Under-19 squad of Karnataka are from Gowthamapuram,” said Mr.Suresh, who donned the State colours in the 1980s.

“Though we know the other games, it is in football that our interest lies. Our focus is on football. Our footballers have joined many factory teams such as HAL, ITI, BEML, NGEF and others,” Mr.Suresh said.

Top teams

It is not only the Bangalore teams that Gowthamapuram footballers have represented. They have made it to the top Kolkata teams such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal Football Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club. Local heros from here include Kadivelu, H.L.Ravikumar, Kannan, Ulaganathan and Bashir.

“This small area has over seven football teams, each representing a lane. Football is is a part of every family here and each has contributed a player,” said N.Sampangi, a former ITI team member.

Continuing Gowthamapuram’s glorious legacy are the young footballers who gather at the ground daily for practice.

Shelton Paul(13) and Manual Joshua (12), students of St.Meera’s School in Ulsoor, without pausing to stop practice, say the World Cup is nothing short of a festival for them.

Getting a kick out of a boot

True to their spirit, the residents of Gowthamapura area will unveil a giant football boot on Friday to coincide with the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup at South Africa.

“The six-foot boot has be kept in front of Pele’s statue. A giant screen will also be installed to enable thousands of residents to watch the matches live,” said S. Suresh of the Gowthamapura Football Club.

Late Shri.M.Jayaselan former Dy.Mayaor of Bangalore not only encouraged football, but was responsible for renaming Guntroop as Gauthamapuram, Shoolay as Ashok Nagar, Pudhuparacheri as Shanthi Nagar, Pilkar Cheri as Nehrupuram. He encouraged football players in these areas and Austin Town.