At daybreak Anuruddha asks Ānanda to go into the city and inform the Mallas, who are in session in their assembly hall, that the Buddha has passed away. The Mallas come to the sāla grove with incense, flowers, musical instruments and five hundred pairs of cloth to honour him. Pali Canon
Different Accounts
The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra translated by Faxian says Ānanda first let the and the female pay homage, and that the tears of a poor female lay disciple aged a hundred fell on the Buddha's feet.
More differences between accounts (2)
The Chinese Youxing jing also records the daughter of Roja the Malla and an old woman. Taishō Canon
The Chinese Fo bannihuan jing says the householders asked for a delay of seven days.
Dating
The Buddha has already passed away (aged eighty at his passing); this is still counted in Year 45 after the Awakening, after the ; day 1 after the passing, stated in the canonical text, so it can be fixed to the day.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded by five schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dīrgha Āgama, the Chinese Kṣudrakavastu of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing and the Chinese three-fascicle Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. Attested across multiple schools.
- Dating Evidence and Precision
Stated in the canonical text (the text itself gives the time). Time precision: fixed to the day.
Sources
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 292a7–293a1
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.205c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.207a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.28a
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 292b1
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:6.12.1–6.13.3
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.27c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.173a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.189a
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.400b
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:6.11.14