རི་བོ་བྱ་རྐང་། Journey to Riwo Jakang. Gurpa. | MAHAKASHYAPA CAVE | KUKKUTAPADA GIRI. Bihar

GURPĀ-SAMĀDHI PLACE OF MAHĀKAŚYAPA About twenty years after the assembly of the first council, Mahākaśyapa entrusted his duties to Ānanda, and handed over the Buddha’s alms-bowl to him as a symbol of continuing the faithful preservation of the Dharma. Then Mahākaśyapa went to the Buddha’s stūpa to pay homage and make offerings. He returned to Rājagṛiha to pay his last respects to King Ajātśatru, but the guards told him that the king was sleeping and could not be disturbed. Mahākaśyapa went on his way and arrived at Kukkuṭapādagiri. Kukkuṭapāda Mountain is shaped like the three toes of a cock’s foot as it is topped by three small mountains. When Mahākaśyapa arrived at this mountain, the three mountains split and formed a seat to receive him. Mahākaśyapa covered it with grass and sat down. He decided, ‘I will preserve my body with my miraculous power and cover it with my rag-robes.’ Then the three mountains enclosed his body. King Ajātśatru was deeply grieved by the news of Mahākaśyapa’s departure. He went to Kukkuṭapāda Mountain with Ānanda. Arriving there, the three mountains opened and they saw Mahākaśyapa sitting up straight and meditating. Some Buddhist texts mention that Ajātśatru built a stūpa on the top of the Hill. Xuanzang mention that, kāśyapa did not attain parinirvāṇa; he dwells in the Kukkuṭapādagiri Mountain, wrapt in samādhi (a state of meditative consciousness), awaiting the arrival of Matriyea Buddha.