How did Mahayana sutras present themselves as teachings of the Buddha?

In the Mahayana tradition, Mahayana sutras present themselves as the authoritative word of the Buddha, or Buddhavachana, by framing their contents as sermons delivered by the historical Buddha Shakyamuni.123

These texts were compiled beginning approximately four centuries after the Buddha’s death. To establish their legitimacy, they often depict the Buddha as revealing teachings that he had previously reserved only for his more advanced disciples. Furthermore, some Mahayana sutras, such as the Lotus Sutra, reconceptualize the Buddha’s life and nature. They suggest that the Buddha achieved enlightenment eons ago and that his historical life—including his renunciation and eventual passing into nirvana—was a display of "skillful means" (upaya). By feigning these events, the Buddha intended to inspire and guide beings of varying capacities toward liberation.1245

Additionally, some Mahayana traditions attribute the origin of certain texts to miraculous circumstances, claiming they were concealed by nagas (mythical beings) in underground kingdoms until they were ready to be revealed to the world.6