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The first of the
twenty-four Buddhas.
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He was born in Rammavatī,
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his father being King Sudeva (v.l.
Sumedha) and
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his mother Sumedhā.
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For ten thousand years he lived in the
household, in three palaces, Hamsā, Końcā and Mayūrā.
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His wife was Padumā and
his son Usabhakkhandha (Samavatakkhandha).
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He left home on an elephant and
practised austerities for ten months.
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His Bodhi-tree was the Pipphalī and grass
for his seat was given by an Ājīvaka named Sunanda.
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His first sermon was
preached at Nandārāma (Sunandārāma) at Sirighara, where he converted the
heretics.
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He had three great gatherings of his followers.
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He was always attended
by eighty-four thousand arahants, and his body was eighty cubits in height.
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He
died at Nandārāma at the age of one hundred thousand years and his thūpa was
thirty-six yojanas high.
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Sumangala and Tissa were his chief monks,
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Nandā and
Sunandā his chief nuns, while
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Sāgata (v.l. Nanda) was his constant attendant.
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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).
Sumedha and
Dīpankara
Buddha.
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.
 
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