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To participate in the funeral rites of Bhagavan Mahāvira, all the Indras of the gods and the asuras came down with their respective families of devas and asuras. All had tears in their eyes. All were overwhelmed with the feeling that they had been turned into orphans. At the order of the Sakra, the gods brought gosirşa sandal wood from Nandanavana. They brought water (milk) from the Kṣira-sagara (Ocean of Milk). With this water, Indra gave a bath to the body of Mahavira, applied perfumed pastes to it and covered it with divine cloth. Then the body was placed on a divine palanquin.
The palanquin was lifted up by the Indras. The gods showered divine flowers with shouts of 'victory'. On the way leading to the creamation ground, some gods and goddesses danced at the head of the palanquin, and some other gods worshiped the body with diamonds and gems. Overwhelmed with profound grief, the sravakas and the srav - kas followed the palanquin. On arriving at the appropriate place, the planquin was placed on the ground. The Agnikumara gods lit the pyre. The Vayukumara gods started the winds. Other gods emptied jars full of ghee and honey on the pyre. When the mortal remains of Bhagavan Mahāvira were turned into ashes, the pyre was cooled by the Meghakumara gods with water (milk) brought from Kṣirasagara. Sakrendra and Isanendra respectively collected the right and left upper jaw-bones. Other gods collected teeth and other bones pieces. Human beings became happy to collect the ashes. In the end, at the place where the pyre was lit, the gods erected an altar of gems (22).
During the night of the liberation of Bhagavan Mahavira, the surface of the earth was lit bright because of the coming of gods and goddesses (23). Even men burnt lamps. Thus started the Festival of Light (dipavali) on this earth (24).
During the night of the liberation of Bhagavan Mahavira, the minutest of organisms called kunthu made it appearance on this earth. This was a symbolic indication
that in future swarms of insects would be on the wax on this earth, and this would make restraint next to impossible. In anticipation of bad times ahead, many monks and nuns ended their lives by fasts unto death(25).
