The Malla chiefs try to light the pyre, but it will not catch. Anuruddha says the gods are waiting for Mahākassapa to come and pay homage at the Buddha's feet. When Mahākassapa arrives he circles the pyre and pays homage at the Buddha's feet; when he has finished, the fire ignites by itself. Pali Canon
Different Accounts
The Chinese Youxing jing, Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya, Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing and the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra translated by Faxian say the Buddha's feet came out of the coffin, and several of them add that the feet bore the marks of an old woman's tears; the Chinese Sarvāstivāda Vinaya and Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya and the Tibetan Vinaya say the coffin was opened and the cloth unwound so that Mahākassapa could pay homage, and then wrapped again.
More differences between accounts (2)
Who lit the pyre: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition has four Malla chiefs; the Chinese Youxing jing has the Malla minister Roja. Taishō Canon
The Chinese Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya records Mahākassapa saying “I am the eldest son of the Blessed One; it is for me to perform the cremation”, meaning that as the Buddha's eldest son it should be he who cremates him. Taishō Canon
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 7 after the passing or a little later, stated in the canonical text, so it can be fixed to a day.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
The episode of “the fire not lighting until Mahākassapa came” is recorded by six schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, the Chinese Dīrgha Āgama, the Chinese Kṣudrakavastu of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Chinese Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya (Mohe sengqi lü), the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing and the Chinese three-fascicle Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. Attested across multiple schools. The “appearance of the Buddha's feet” within it is recorded by four 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 295b1–296b5
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1425 p.490b
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 296a6–296b2
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:6.21.1–6.22.3
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.28b–29a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.28c
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.1 p.29a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.174a–b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.189b–190a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.206c
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.401b
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1428 p.966c
- 大正藏大正藏 T23 no.1435 p.446a
- 大正藏大正藏 T22 no.1425 p.490a–b
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.100 p.414a
- 大正藏大正藏 T02 no.99 p.325c