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Sumana Buddha

The fourth of the twenty-four Buddhas.

• He was born in Mekhala, his father being the warrior (khattiya) Sudatta and his mother Sirimā.
• For nine thousand years he lived as a householder in three palaces — Canda, Sucanda and Vatamsa (BuA.125 calls them Nārivaddhana, Somavaddhana and Iddhivaddhana) — his wife being Vatamsikā and his son Anupama.
• He left the world on an elephant, practised austerities for ten months, and attained enlightenment under a nāga tree, being given a meal of milk-rice by Anupamā, daughter of Anupama-seṭṭhi of Anoma, and grass for his seat by the Ājīvaka Anupama.
• His first discourse was taught in the Mekhala Park, and among his first disciples were his step-brother Saraṇa and the chief priest’s son Bhāvitatta.
• His Twin Miracle was performed in Sunandavatī. The Bodhisatta was a Nāga king Atula. One of the Buddha’s chief assemblies was on the occasion of his solving the questions of King Arindama on Nirodha.
• Sarana and Bhāvitatta were his chief monks and Sonā and Upasenā his chief nuns. Udena was his personal attendant. Varuṇa and Saraṇa were his chief lay supporters among men and Cālā and Upacālā among women.
• His body was ninety cubits in height, and he died at the age of ninety thousand in Angārāma, where a thūpa of four leagues was erected over his ashes. Bu.v.1 ff; BuA.125 f; J.i.30,34,35, 40.