Kushinagara ［拘尸那掲羅・倶尸那城］ (; Pali Kusinārā; Kushinagara or Kushina-jō): The capital city of Malla in northern India, one of the sixteen great states of India during Shakyamuni’s lifetime. Kushinagara is equated with the present-day city of Kasia in the northeastern part of Uttar Pradesh state. Shakyamuni died in a grove of sal trees in the northern part of Kushinagara. For this reason, Kushinagara is considered one of the four most sacred places associated with Shakyamuni, the others being the place of his birth, of his attainment of enlightenment, and of his first sermon. Shakyamuni’s remains were cremated at Kushinagara, and his ashes were divided into eight parts, one of which was kept with the Mallas. It is said that the Mallas erected a stupa at Kushinagara to enshrine these ashes.