I do appreciate your reply and understand that it’s a tradition in their religion and in many others. The glass encased uncorrupted body of St. Bernadette of Lourdes comes to mind. Parts of the Buddha himself have supposedly been preserved as relics. But I still think it’s curious when juxtaposed to the man’s teachings. But so are a lot of the various practices in the different forms of Buddhism. I think there was a lot syncretic mixing with the Animist religions Buddhism replaced.
> Parts of the Buddha himself have supposedly been preserved as relics...
The body of Sidharth Malhotra (Lord Buddha) was cremated and the ashes sifted to obtain 4 teeth. These teeth are the relics.