Cultural-historical meaning of the Eight stupas of Tathagata

It is said about architectural and religious monuments of Buddhism - the Eight stupas of Tathagata. The meaning of the Eight stupas of Tathagata includes memorial stupas uddesika. This meaning is formed on the bases of tradition to visit the eight places, which are connected with events of the Buddha's life. Speaking about the Eight stupas of Tathagata it is necessary to differ from the meaning the Great Eight stupas, which includes relic stupas sariraka, which were built after mahaparinibbana of Buddha. According to Ma-haparinibbana Suttanta, the relic_stupas sariraka are the first eight stupas. So the meaning of the Eight memorial stupas or the Eight stupas of Tathagata means not only some concrete group of monuments, but means the tradition to visit the eight places of pilgrimage.