The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha - Passing Away
When the Buddha was eighty years of age, he announced that his
time was at an end, and he prepared his followers for his Paranirvana, the great cessation of his earthly being.
His constant attendant during this time was his disciple Ananda. The Buddha told Ananda that after his death
the Sangha should not think their master's words had come to an end. The truth of the Dharma and the Sangha
would continue to guide and teach those who came after he had died.
When he and his followers had reached Kushinagar, the Buddha ate a meal which was offered, which brought on a final illness. There is differing opinion as to whether this meal was of pork or mushrooms, as the Buddha had instructed that he and his followers preferred vegetarian food, but were to eat whatever was offered to them out of respect to their host.
He went a little further then lay down on his right side between two trees with his head facing the north and addressed his followers for the last time. According to the scriptures, he said: "Decay is inherent in all compounded phenomena! Work for your liberation with diligence!"
When the ruler of Kushinagar heard of the Buddha's death, he sent word that he would arrange the funeral ceremony. The last rites were carried out with all the honour due to a universal monarch and the Kings of all the states of the Gangetic plain were in attendance. After the cremation they divided his ashes into eight parts and each King carried these back to his kingdom, where a Stupa was built out of respect and veneration.
