History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c15.s5.15

c15.s5.15

A very significant indication of friendly relations between the two sects is the story of the announcement of the Buddha’s parinirvāṇa to the elder Mahākassapa. At the head of a band of 500 bhikkhus he was resting by the roadside on the way from Pāvā to Kusinārā, when there passed by a certain Ājīvika, who came from Kusinārā holding a mandārava flower in his hand; this indicated that some great and auspicious event had taken place, for the mandārava grows in the worlds of the gods, and only rains upon earth on such occasions. The monks asked the Ājīvika if he knew their leader, and it was he who told them that Gotama had passed to nirvāṇa seven days previously.⁵ In the Vinaya story the Ājīvika’s words are very respectfully spoken. He addresses Mahākassapa by the title āvuso, and implicitly admits the greatness of the Buddha by referring to him as parinibbuta instead of mata.⁶ He, too, is addressed by the courteous title āvuso.