During the service, a Butsu Nehan-zu (painting of Buddha nirvana), depicting Shakamuni entering Nirvana under a sal tree, lying with his head pointing to the north, and his face facing to the west, surronded by ten great disciples, a group of Bosatsu (Bodhisattva), Tenbu (deities who reside in a heavenly realm, one of six realms in which the souls of living beings transmigrate from one to another), animals and insects all lamenting his death, is hung, and "Butsuyuikyogyo" (Mahayana Buddhist scripture) is chanted.
法要中は、釈迦が娑羅双樹の下で涅槃に入った際の、頭を北にして西を向き右脇を下にした姿で臥し、周囲に十大弟子を始め諸菩薩、天部や獣畜、虫類などまでが嘆き悲しむさまを描いた仏涅槃図（涅槃図）を掲げ、『仏遺教経』を読誦することとなっている。