An old ruin of a Stupa and the sacred Footprints chiselled on granite, Sithulpawwa, Sri Lanka.

Worship of an image of Lord Buddha was a later developement. In the early years of Buddhism only objects signifying the presence of the Master ('sankhetha'), like a pair of feet, an umbrella, a whisk or an empty throne were used. This was in keeping with the philosophy of attaining Nibbana when 'nothing remains'.