Dīpaṅkara Buddha
The first of the twenty-
- He was born in Rammavatī,
- his father being King Sudeva (v.l. Sumedha) and
- his mother Sumedhā.
- For ten thousand years he lived in the household, in three palaces, Haṃsā, Koñcā, and Mayūrā.
- His wife was Padumā and his son Usabhakkhandha (Samavatakkhandha).
- He left home on an elephant and practised austerities for ten months.
- His Bodhi-
tree was the Pipphalī and grass for his seat was given by an Ājīvaka named Sunanda. - His first discourse was taught at Nandārāma (Sunandārāma) at Sirighara, where he converted the heretics.
- He had three great gatherings of his followers.
- He was always attended by eighty-
four thousand Arahants, and his body was eighty cubits in height. - He died at Nandārāma at the age of one hundred thousand years and his thūpa was thirty-
six leagues high. - Sumaṅgala and Tissa were his chief monks,
- Nandā and Sunandā his chief nuns, while
- Sāgata (v.l. Nanda) was his constant attendant.
- Tapassu and Bhallika were his chief lay patrons among men and Sirimā and Soṇā among women.
It was during the time of Dīpaṅkara Buddha that the ascetic Sumedha (q.v.), who later became Gotama Buddha, first declared his intention of becoming an aspirant for Enlightenment (a Bodhisatta).
After Dīpaṅkara’s death, his doctrine lasted for one hundred thousand years. Bu.ii.207 ff; BuA.104 f; J.i.29; Mhv.i.5; Dpv.iii.31; DhA.i.69; but see Mtu.i.193 ff., where the details differ from those given here.
2. Dīpaṅkara.– See Buddhappiya.