________________
556
The Mallas wanted to lit the pyre, but they could not do so. Explaining the reason for this Anuruddha said,
"Vāśisthas ! You want to do something, and the gods want to do something else. It is the desire of the gods that the pyre be lit after the longlived Mahākāsyapa has a chance to touch the Buddha's feet".
- "Bhante ! Where is the long-lived Mahakasy
apa at this moment"?
Anuruddha said,
''With 500 monks following him, he is on the road between Păvă and Kusinärä".
On this the Mallás said,
"We shall abide by the wishes of the gods".
The long-lived Mahäkäs yapa arrived at last. He placed his rag on one shoulder, and then with folded hands, he thrice moved round the pyre. Then he removed the shroud a little and touched the Buddha's feet with his forehead. His 500 monks also did the same. No sooner were all these done than the pyre lit its elf. After the body was consumed by the flames nothing remained, neither ashes nor charcoal. Just as butter or oil in a burning lamp simply ceases to exist, so did his skin, flesh, etc. Only the bones remained, When the body was thus consumed up, there appeared clouds in the sky, and these cooled the pyre.
The Mallas collected the bones and placed them in their public hall. For the safe-keeping of the last remains, a circle of guards was placed with javelins and another with bows and arrows. Dances and music were started in honour of the last remains.
Ajātasatru, the King of Magadha sent a request to the Mallas which was as follows:
