The first of the twenty-four Buddhas.
- 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, Hamsā,
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 sermon was preached 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 yojanas high.
- Sumangala 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 Sonā
among women.
It was during the time of Dīpankara 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 Dīpankara's death, his doctrine lasted for one hundred thousand years.
Bu.ii.207ff; BuA.104f; J.i.29; Mhv.i.5; Dpv.iii.31; DhA.i.69; but see
Mtu.i.193ff., where the details differ from those given here.
2. Dīpankara.-See
Buddhappiya.
