(Skt., Chn. 舍利子 shelizi): Also called relics. A very dense and hard substance undestroyed by cremation, often compared to a rare type of stone, although this term is also used to refer to various kinds of relics. It is a sign of spiritual attainment resulting from total concentration of the mind and the congelation of the subtle vital energy and substances. One who produces sariras upon cremation is said to ascend to the pureland. Sariras are typically round, or roundish, and are usually found inside the skull and on the bones around the joints. There are also flower sariras, hair sariras, blood sariras, teeth sariras, tongue sariras (belonging to Kumarajiva), and even whole body sariras. They can appear in many colors—white, black, yellow, red, blue, green, coral, metallic, and all colors of the rainbow. The hardest essence sariras are extremely hard and unbreakable, and they can be as small as a millet or as large as a macadamia nut. The latter are called vajra sariras.
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