Grammatical Analysis
Dhātugabbha: [m.] relic chamber; the inner chamber in which relics are enshrined. Formed by dhātu (here the bodily relics of the Buddha) + gabbha (interior, inner chamber). The term does not occur in the Mūla (count: 0 in the Mūla; 7 sentences in the Aṭṭhakathā, 0 in the Ṭīkā, and 37 in later chronicles such as the Mahāvaṃsa).
Orthodox Definition
The Dhātugabbha is the relic chamber of a shrine (cetiya, thūpa), the place where bodily relics (dhātu) are deposited. The Apadāna-aṭṭhakathā speaks of a dhātugabbhe cetiye, a shrine with a relic chamber (Ap-a 2757:3), and of a man who made an umbrella upon an umbrella and paid homage to the shrine in which the Blessed One’s bodily relic was deposited (nihitadhātugabbhaṃ, Ap-a 2985:2).
The earliest layer that uses the word is the Aṭṭhakathā. In the Sumaṅgalavilāsinī, in the section on the honouring of the relic stūpas (Dhātuthūpapūjāvaṇṇanā, Sv-ii 798), King Ajātasattu makes a relic deposit (dhātunidhāna); Sakka sends Vissakamma to guard it, and Vissakamma sets up a machine of figures holding swords in “that relic chamber” (tasmiṃ dhātugabbhe), builds a stone wall round it, covers it with a single slab, levels the ground and sets up a stone shrine above it (Sv-ii 808:2-3).
The later chronicle Mahāvaṃsa has a chapter called “Dhātugabbharacano”, the construction of the relic chamber (Mhv 6593, 6901, “Tiṃsatimo paricchedo”, the thirtieth chapter); it speaks of the works in the relic chamber being completed and of the king summoning the Saṅgha (Mhv 6906-6907). When the chamber was finished it was closed with stones that had been brought (Mhv 7261:1).
Quote (Aṭṭhakathā: Sumaṅgalavilāsinī (Dīgha Nikāya commentary))
Sakko devarājā vissakammaṃ āmantetvā – “tāta, ajātasattunā dhātunidhānaṃ kataṃ, ettha ārakkhaṃ paṭṭhapehī” ti pahiṇi. So āgantvā vāḷasaṅghāṭayantaṃ yojesi, kaṭṭharūpakāni tasmiṃ dhātugabbhe phalikavaṇṇakhagge gāhetvā vātasadisena vegena anupariyāyantaṃ yantaṃ yojetvā ekāya eva āṇiyā bandhitvā samantato giñjakāvasathākārena silāparikkhepaṃ katvā upari ekāya pidahitvā paṃsuṃ pakkhipitvā bhūmiṃ samaṃ katvā tassa upari pāsāṇathūpaṃ patiṭṭhapesi.
Sakka, the king of the gods, addressed Vissakamma: “Dear child, Ajātasattu has made a relic deposit. Establish protection there,” and sent him off. He came and set up a mechanical device of joined fierce figures. Having set up a machine with wooden figures holding crystal-colored swords in that relic chamber, spinning around with speed like the wind, he secured it with a single peg. He made a stone wall all around it in the shape of a brick house, covered it on top with a single stone slab, threw soil over it, made the ground level, and established a stone Shrine on top of it.— Sumaṅgalavilāsinī (Mahāvagga-aṭṭhakathā, Dhātuthūpapūjāvaṇṇanā) · TPR
Quote (Aṭṭhakathā: Apadāna-aṭṭhakathā)
Parinibbute bhagavatītiādikaṃ āyasmato atichattiyattherassa apadānaṃ. Ayampi purimabuddhesu katādhikāro tattha tattha bhave vivaṭṭūpanissayāni puññāni upacinanto atthadassissa bhagavato kāle ekasmiṃ kulagehe nibbatto dharamānassa bhagavato adiṭṭhattā parinibbutakāle “aho mama parihānī” ti cintetvā “mama jātiṃ saphalaṃ karissāmī” ti katasanniṭṭhāno chattādhichattaṃ kāretvā tassa bhagavato sarīradhātuṃ nihitadhātugabbhaṃ pūjesi.
“When the Blessed One had passed away” and the following is the legend of the Venerable Atichattiya. He too, having fulfilled his spiritual duties under previous Buddhas, accumulating merit that is a foundational support for liberation in various existences, was born in a family home in the time of the Blessed One Atthadassī. Because he had not seen the Blessed One while he was alive, when he passed away, he thought, “Alas, my loss!” and having resolved, “I will make my birth fruitful,” he had an upper parasol made and offered it to the reliquary where the Blessed One’s bodily relics had been placed.— Apadāna-aṭṭhakathā (Chattavagga, Atichattiyattheraapadānavaṇṇanā) · TPR
Quote (Añña: Mahāvaṃsa)
Dhātugabbhamhi kammāni, niṭṭhāpetvā arindamo; Sannipātaṃ kārayitvā, saṅghassa idhamabravi.
- Having completed (niṭṭhāpetvā) the works in the relic chamber, the subduer of enemies (arindamo) Having summoned an assembly (sannipātaṃ), he spoke thus to the Saṅgha (saṅghassa).
— Mahāvaṃsapāḷi (Mhv, ch. 30 Dhātugabbharacano)
Textual References
- Commentary: Sumaṅgalavilāsinī – Mahāvagga-aṭṭhakathā, Dhātuthūpapūjāvaṇṇanā (Sv-ii 798), the relic chamber at Sv-ii 808:3.
- Commentary: Apadāna-aṭṭhakathā – Ap-a 1879:1 (“jotamānadhātugabbhamhi”, in the brilliant relic chamber), Ap-a 2757:3 (“dhātugabbhe cetiye”) and Ap-a 2985:2 (Atichattiya).
- Historical: Mahāvaṃsa – Mhv 6593 and 6901 “Dhātugabbharacano”, ch. 30 (Mhv 6902 “Tiṃsatimo paricchedo”); the closing of the chamber at Mhv 7261.