Bhūmicāla Sutta

It records the incident, at the Cāpāla cetiya in Vesāli, of the Buddha giving Ananda a last chance of asking him to prolong his life. When Ananda fails to take advantage of this opportunity, the Buddha announces to Māra, who asks him to finish his life, that he will die at the end of three months. At this announcement there was a great earthquake, the reason for which Ananda enquires of the Buddha, who enlightens him.

A.iv.308ff; D.ii.102f.; S.v.259; Ud.vi.1.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from