The Discourse about the Great Emancipation

The Sixth Chapter for Recitation
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā gave orders to (their) men, (saying): “If it
is so (then) wrap (the body) with the Mallas' carded cloth, friends.”
Then the Mallas of Kusinārā wrapped the Gracious One's body with
clean cloth, and after wrapping with clean cloth, they wrapped with
carded cotton, and after wrapping with carded cotton, they wrapped
with clean cloth, and by this means, after wrapping the Gracious One'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 put the Gracious One's body on the
funeral pyre.
[43: The Story concerning Mahākassapa] 186
Now at that time venerable Mahākassapa was travelling along the
highway from Pāvā to Kusinārā, together with a great Community of
monks, around five-hundred monks. Then venerable Mahākassapa,
after descending from the path, sat down at the root of a certain tree.
Now at that time a certain Ājīvaka 187 while holding a Mandārava
flower 188 from Kusinārā was travelling along the highway to Pāvā.
186 cf. Pañcasatikakkhandhakaṁ, opening (Cullavagga, 11).
187 Sometimes translated as naked ascetic. The Ājīvakas were followers of
Makkhali Gosāla, and held that there was no result of action (akriyavāda).
188 Mandārava flowers were believed to grow in the Tusita heaven and only
fall on special occasions.
185