Central Asia ,
Kizil Caves, 5th-6th century CE,
Xinjiang,
China. Xuanzang recounts, having become his first disciples Trapusa and Bahalika wished his leave to return home, they asked the Buddha for something by which they could remember and honour him in his absence. The Buddha gave them eight of his hairs as relics. They made golden caskets for the relics and took them to their own city (
Balkh) where they enshrined them in a stupa by the city gate. See
Nava Vihara. Xuanzang recounts that theirs was the first ever Buddhist Stupa to be made and that the Buddha had first to instruct them how to erect it by folding his three robes into squares piling them up and then topping them off with his inverted bowl.
Sri Lanka What is stated in the chronicles of
Sri Lanka is that, two merchant brothers, Thapassu and Bhalluka were from ukkalapada,
Utkal or modern state of
Orissa, who travelled to different parts in the region, met the Buddha just after his Enlightenment while they were on their way to Rajagaha (
Rajgir). They offered the first alms to the Buddha. Taking refuge in the Buddha and the Dhamma they became the first lay disciples of the Buddha. Requesting the Buddha something to worship, the Buddha gave them, eight handfuls of his hair, which he obtained by stroking his head. During their travel they arrived at
Thiriyaya (North-East of Sri Lanka) from India. At Thiriyaya, some of the hair relics they brought were enshrined at a Stupa built on top of a mountain which is now called
Girihandu Seya. That is considered the first Stupa in Sri Lanka.
Myanmar According to the
Buddhavaṃsa, Tapussa and Bhallika — two merchant brothers from Ukkalājanapada or modern day Orissa — were passing through
Bodh Gaya when they encountered the Buddha. The Buddha, who was at that time enjoying the bliss of his newly attained
buddhahood as he sat under a
rājāyatana tree, accepted their offering of
rice cake and honey and taught them some of the
dharma in return. In so doing, they became the first
lay disciples to
take refuge in the teachings of the Buddha. The Buddha also gave eight strands of his hair to the merchants and gave them instructions on how to construct a stupa in which to enshrine these
hair relics. ==Significance==