佛祖統紀 4.13

4.13

At that time, King Udayana (of the kingdom of Kauśāmbī), longing for the World-Honoured One, cast a golden image. Hearing that the Buddha was about to descend the jeweled steps, he had an elephant carry the golden image to welcome the World-Honoured One. The golden image rose and descended just like a living Buddha, raining flowers, emitting light, and paying homage to the Buddha. The World-Honoured One joined his palms and said to the image: 'After my extinction, I entrust my disciples to you' (Guanfo sanmei jing. Note: According to the Ekottarika-āgama, Śakra invited the Buddha to ascend to Trāyastriṃśa Heaven to preach the Dharma for his mother. King Udayana, yearning to see the Tathāgata, carved an image of the Tathāgata from sandalwood, five feet in height. King Prasenajit heard of this and made an image of purple-gold, also five feet in height. At that time, Jambudvīpa first had these two images. Also, the Xiyu ji says: 'King Udayana requested Maudgalyāyana to use his supernatural power to transport artisans up to heaven to directly view the marvelous marks, and they carved an image with sandalwood'). The Buddha's maternal aunt Mahāprajāpatī (translated as Great Path of Love), unable to bear seeing the Tathāgata's extinction, paid homage to the Buddha together with five hundred nuns, withdrew to the monastery, and each performed the eighteen transformations in the air, entering nirvāṇa simultaneously. The Buddha ordered Ānanda to go into the city to announce to all householders (upāsakas who had received precepts and remained at home) to make five hundred catalpa coffins, and after the cremation to collect the relics and erect shrines to make offerings (Fomu nihuan jing). The Buddha personally lifted one leg of the bier, and Ānanda lifted one leg, flying through the air to the cemetery. The fourfold assembly each carried the five hundred bhikṣuṇīs (Ekottarika-āgama. Note: According to the Dazhidu lun, the Four Heavenly Kings carried the bier, while the Buddha walked in front holding an incense burner to burn incense and make offerings in order to repay her kindness).