5. The Chronicle of Buddha Revata
After Buddha Sumana had attained Parinibbāna, the lifespan of human beings decreased gradually from 90,000 years down to ten years; and from ten years, it again increased to immeasurables. When the lifespan became 60,000 years on its decline, Bodhisatta Revata, on complete fulfilment of the perfections, was reborn in Tusita, as is the common practice of all Bodhisattas.
While enjoying the celestial life there, he agreed to comply with the request made by Devas and Brahmas, and descended to the human abode and took conception in the womb of Queen Vipulā, wife of King Vipula, in the city of Sudhaññavatī. When ten months had elapsed, he emerged from his mother’s womb like the golden goose king that appears from Mount Citta.
Early Life
When the Bodhisatta, Prince Revata, came of age, he resided in three uniquely beautiful palaces, namely, Sudassana, Ratanagghi, and Āveḷa, which appeared as a result of his perfections and glorious deeds of the past. He enjoyed a royal household life that was comparable with a divine life for 6,000 years together with his consort Sudassanā and was entertained and waited upon by 33,000 attendants.
While he was thus enjoying his life, his wife, Princess Sudassanā, gave birth to a son named Varuṇa. After seeing the four omens presented by Devas, which was something common to all Bodhisattas, he mounted the chariot drawn by thoroughbred horses and went forth, renouncing the world, in a procession composed of his fourfold army of elephants, horses, chariots and foot-soldiers, like the moon surrounded by the stars and planets, like Sakka, the Lord of the Devas, followed by his fellow-beings or like Hārita, King of Brahmas, followed by divine beings of his abode. On reaching a grove, he handed his garments to the keeper of his treasures, cut off his hair with his ever-present sword and flung his hair into the sky.
His hair was received in a golden receptacle by Sakka, who built a shrine of the seven kinds of jewels over it in Tāvatiṁsa on Mount Meru. Having put on the lotus-robe offered by the Brahma he thus became a recluse. 10 million men followed his example and became recluses themselves. Bodhisatta Revata then put efforts to undergo the practice of the austerities (dukkara-cariyā) with his 10 million followers for seven months.
Awakening
Having completed the practice of the austerities, on the full-moon day of May (Vesākha) the day he was to become a Buddha, he partook of the milk rice offered by Sādhu Devī, daughter of a wealthy man, and spent the daytime in the local Sāla grove. In the evening, he left behind his followers and went alone to the region of the Mahā Bodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass from a naked ascetic, Varunindhara by name, and spread it under the Ironwood (Nāga) Bodhi tree. Suddenly, there appeared the unconquered seat (aparājita-pallaṅka) of 53 cubits in size, on which he sat cross-legged, mobilized his resources of fourfold energy, dispelled Māra and his forces, and attained the omniscient state of a Perfectly Self-Awakened One, Lord of the Three Worlds.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. After becoming a Buddha and staying near the Bodhi tree for 49 days, Buddha Revata accepted a Brahma’s request for his teaching. When he considered who he should teach first, he discerned the 10 million of monastics, who joined him in his renunciation, and also Devas and humans, who were endowed with meritorious deeds from the past, leading them to the paths, fruitions and Nibbāna. When he contemplated their whereabouts, he came to know that they were staying in Varuṇa Park, eighteen leagues from the Mahā Bodhi tree.
Taking his bowl and robe and using his psychic power he immediately appeared at the monastics’ residence in Varuṇa Park. On his arrival there, Buddha Revata was very warmly received by the monastics. To these monastics the Buddha taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse and 10 million monastics realized Awakening. Those who were established in the lower paths and fruitions were countless.
2. At another time, Buddha Revata paid a visit to the city of Uttara, so named because it excelled all other cities, during the reign of King Arindama, who had conquered all of his enemies. Learning of the Buddha’s arrival, the king, with his 30 million followers, extended a warm welcome and invitation to the Buddha for the next day’s meal. For seven days he gave a great alms gift (dāna) and held a festival of lights extending three miles in honour of
3. Still at another time, while sojourning at a place near the market-town of Uttara, a resort for his alms food, Buddha Revata engaged himself in the attainment of cessation (nirodha-samāpatti) for seven days. Then townsfolk brought rice-gruel and other kinds of food and drink and offered them to the members of the Saṅgha. “Venerable Sirs, where is the Buddha staying?” asked the people. “Dear supporters,” replied the monks, “the Buddha is absorbed in the attainment of cessation.” When seven days had lapsed, they had an opportunity of seeing the Buddha and asked him about the advantages of that very attainment. Accordingly, the Buddha explained to them the advantages of the attainment of cessation. As a result, one billion Devas and humans were established in the Arahat fruition (Arahatta-phala).
Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting
1. There were three meetings of the Buddha’s disciples, the first of which took place in the city of Sudhaññavatī where Buddha Revata recited the Monastic Rules (Pātimokkha) for the first time to the Arahats, who had become summoned monastics and who were too innumerable to count.
2. Later, at the meeting held in Mekhala city, the Buddha recited the Monastic Rules (Pātimokkha) to 1,000 billion summoned monastic Arahats.
3. At the third meeting, Buddha Revata explained the three characteristics of impermanence, suffering and unsubstantiality to the people who went to enquire after the ailing Ven. Varuṇa, who was the Buddha’s chief disciple and right-hand man and was foremost among knowers of Dhamma as he was able to keep the Dhamma Wheel in constant motion. His health condition then was so serious that it gave rise to anxiety and the question: “Will he survive?” At that meeting, the Buddha also made 100,000 men summoned monastics and established them in the Arahat fruition (Arahatta-phala). Finally he recited the Monastic Rules (Pātimokkha) in that very meeting which was composed of four features.
Bodhisatta Atideva
At that time, our Bodhisatta was a Brahmin named Atideva, fully accomplished in Brahminic lore, which was handed down by generation after generation of teachers. On encountering Buddha Revata, and after listening to the Buddha’s discourse, he took refuge in the Three Treasures. He also sang 1,000 verses in praise of the Buddha’s attributes of morality, concentration and wisdom, and offered his upper garment which was worth 1,000 pieces of money.
Thereupon Buddha Revata made a prophecy: “Two immeasurable periods and 100,000 aeons [Mistakenly written as two immeasurables and 100 aeons in the original.] after the present one, you will become a Buddha by the name of Gotama.” On receiving Buddha Revata’s prophecy, the Bodhisatta’s mind became all the more serene and he courageously resolved to make more effort in fulfilling of the perfections: “I will contemplate and develop the perfections and try to attain the state of a Buddha that I long for.”
Particulars of Buddha Revata
Buddha Revata’s birthplace was Sudhaññavatī city.
His father was King Vipula and
He reigned for 6,000 years.
His three palaces were Sudassana, Ratanagghi and Āveḷa.
His chief consort was Sudassanā, who had 33,000 maids of honour.
His son was Varuṇa.
Having seen the four omens, he renounced the world in a chariot drawn by thoroughbred horses.
He practised the austerities for seven months.
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Varuṇa and Ven. Brahmadeva.
His attendant was Ven. Sambhava.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Bhaddā and Ven. Subhaddā.
His Bodhi tree was an Ironwood (Nāga) tree.
His male noble supporters were the wealthy men Paduma and Kuñjara.
His female noble supporters were Sirimā and Yasavatī.
Buddha Revata’s height was 80 cubits. He illumined all the directions like the hoisted banner of Sakka. His physical radiance spread all round, up to one league, day and night.
The lifespan during his time was 60,000 years. He lived throughout the period equal to four-fifths of this lifespan, rescuing numerous humans, Devas and Brahmas from the flood-waters of Saṁsāra and placing them on the shore of Nibbāna.
Having taught the doctrine of deathlessness to the world by showing the powers of the ten-fold wisdom of the Awakened Ones, Buddha Revata attained Parinibbāna, like great flames of fire that become extinct as the fuel runs out.
When his Parinibbāna was drawing near, Buddha Revata resolved: “May my relics remain not in a mass but split into pieces and reach various places so that, when I am gone, all beings may attain celestial abodes and Nibbāna as a result of them.” Then he attained Parinibbāna in the Ironwood (Nāga) grove, neither too near nor too far from the city. His relics did not form into one mass, a deviation from the usual mode of relics of long-lived Buddhas, but dispersed and spread to every nook and corner of Jambudīpa, in accordance with his resolve and were held in honour by humans, Devas and Brahmas.
That Buddha Revata’s frame, which was like a solid gem stone, and his incomparable ten-fold Dhamma have all vanished. Unsubstantial and futile indeed are all conditioned things!