The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Sixth Chapter for Recitation
Mallas' Shrine called the Bonded Coronet there set down the Gracious
One's body.
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā said this to venerable Ānanda: “How do
we act, reverend Ānanda, in regard to the Realised One's body?”
“As you act, Vāseṭṭhas, in regard to the Universal Monarch's body, so
you should act in regard to the Realised One's body.”
“But how do we act, reverend Ānanda, in regard to the Universal
Monarch's body?”
“They wrap the Universal Monarch's body, Vāseṭṭhas, with clean cloth,
and after wrapping with clean cloth, they wrap with carded cotton, and
after wrapping with carded cotton, they wrap with clean cloth, by this
means after wrapping the Universal Monarch's body with five-hundred
pairs (of cloth and cotton), enclosing it in an oil tub made of iron, and
enclosing it in another iron tub, and putting it on a scented funeral
pyre, they burn the Universal Monarch's body, and they build a Shrine
for the Universal Monarch at the crossroads.
So they act, Vāseṭṭhas, in regard to a Universal Monarch's body. Just as
they act, Vāseṭṭhas, in regard to a Universal Monarch's body, so should
they act in regard to a Realised One's body, and a Shrine should be
made for the Realised One at the crossroads. Whoever there prepares
flowers, incense, or powder, or worships or establishes confidence in
his mind, that will be for their benefit and happiness for a long time.”
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