On 15th February, 484 B.C., when Buddha was 80, He parinirvana under the twin bara trees at the outskirt of Kusinagara city.

        At the area around the twin trees, flowers blossomed and trees turned white, it was as if the surrounding mountains were mourning.

Sangiti

        After Sakyamuni entered nirvana, five hundred disciples led by Kasyapa and Ananda recalled, arranged and recorded in writing His oral teachings.

        Ananda was appointed to be responsible for the recalling, by virtue of his being Buddha's long-time attendant and had heard most of His teachings and understood thoroughly the doctrine.  There was no omission or discrepancy.

        Through multiple times of exoteric and esoteric sangiti⁴, the twelve sections of the canon belonging to the Tripitaka⁵ of sutra, vinaya and sastra (sanskrit terms for oral teachings, rules and discussions, respectively) were compiled.