Mahaparanirvana Sutra

Title page to palm leaf manuscript. An abbreviated version of the Mahāparinibbānasutta, which describes the end of Gautama Buddha's life. Possibly produced for the funeral of someone of high rank. Title: Tipit̥aka. Suttapit̥aka. Dighanikāya. Mahāparinibbānasutta. Phra Mahāparinibbāna. Written in 5 lines. Typed on palm leaves. Leaves 2-22 foliated 1-21 at left margin with title (perpendicular to text) and Thai numerals. First leaf has title, two images, and blank verso; last leaf is blank; two holes in each leaf but no threads. The leaves are held together by two strips of palm leaf tied around them which may be slid off. Wrap for the tourist market is red velvet with wire decorations including the Thai phrase sawat di (hello) and lotus flowers. At left there is a seated Buddha figure in front of a wheel and at the right a wheel within a diamond. Large Thai print contains the title of the book at the center. The side paragraphs contain publication and printing information. Published in Bangkok in 2480 BE (1937).