Beyond the Dichotomy: Reasserting the Doctrinal and Functional Significance of Relics (Dhātu) in Theravāda Buddhism

Abstract In the field of Theravāda Buddhist studies, the relationship between the doctrinal teachings of the Dhamma and the material veneration of relics (Dhātu) has long been a subject of academic debate. Contemporary interpretations, heavily influenced by textualism, frequently marginalize relic veneration, reducing it to mere popular cultural accretion or an optional devotional practice disconnected from the ultimate soteriological path. The primary objective of this study is to systematically re-evaluate these modern dichotomous views and objectively clarify the original canonical and functional purpose of relics. To achieve this, the research employs a multidisciplinary methodology. It analyzes primary canonical evidence from the Pāli Tipiṭaka and Aṭṭhakathā commentaries, integrating these findings with modern socio-religious theoretical lenses, specifically Symbolic Anthropology, Ritual Theory, and Cognitive Frameworks. The findings demonstrate that relic veneration is not a post-canonical invention, but rather a doctrinally valid institution explicitly prescribed by the Buddha, as evidenced in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta. Furthermore, the study reveals that relics are not passive biological remains. Instead, they serve as active functional agents that systematically generate faith (saddhā), facilitate Buddhānussati (recollection of the Buddha) meditation, and foster socio-religious cohesion across communities. This study concludes that relics and the Dhamma are not opposing or mutually exclusive concepts. Rather, relics function as the material extension of the Dhamma, providing a tangible cognitive anchor that supports and sustains doctrinal practice. By dismantling the false dichotomy between material devotion and doctrinal pursuit, this research firmly establishes relic veneration as a systematically integrated component within the holistic soteriological framework of Theravāda Buddhism.