The Mallas place the in a golden urn, take them into the city to honour them, and post soldiers to guard them. The Pali canon of the Southern tradition says they were guarded in the assembly hall for seven days by a ring of spears and a ring of bows. Pali Canon
Different Accounts
Where the relics were placed: the Chinese Fo bannihuan jing has the main hall of the palace, the Chinese Bannihuan jing a great hall, the Chinese Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya a fine hall, the Chinese Sarvāstivāda Vinaya a new debating hall; the Chinese Youxing jing does not record the guarding and goes straight on to the division of the relics. Taishō Canon
More differences between accounts (2)
The Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra translated by Faxian says a tall building was built and defended by troops, and only monks and nuns were allowed in to pay homage.
The Chinese Fo bannihuan jing and Bannihuan jing say the relics were honoured in the city for ninety days before the stūpa was built.
Dating
The Buddha has already passed away (aged eighty at his passing); this is still counted in Year 45 after the Awakening, after the ; the seven days after the cremation, stated in the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, known only to fall within those seven days.
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Research Notes: Reliability, Dating and Sources
- How Reliability Is Assessed
Recorded by four schools: the Pali canon of the Southern tradition, 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 296b7–297a3
- 藏譯（德格版）德格版 D6 da 297a1–297a3
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.5 p.174b
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.6 p.190a
- 大正藏大正藏 T01 no.7 p.207a
- 大正藏大正藏 T24 no.1451 p.401b
- 大正藏大正藏 T23 no.1435 p.446b
- Pali Canon巴利 DN 16:6.23.10