7. The Chronicle of Buddha Anomadassī

After the lapse of the aeon in which Buddha Sobhita lived, came one immeasurable period devoid of Buddhas (suñña-kappa). Again, after these had passed, there appeared in a certain aeon three Buddhas, namely, Anomadassī, Paduma and Nārada. The first of these was the Buddha Anomadassī.

Having fulfilled the perfections for sixteen immeasurables and 100,000 aeons, like other Bodhisattas, he was reborn in Tusita heaven. At the request of Devas and Brahmas, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of Princess Yasodharā of King Yasavā, in the city of Candavatī. A strange event happened then. As soon as Prince Anomadassī was conceived, because of his meritorious deeds, light spread out from the princess to the extent of 80 cubits and was unsurpassed by the light of the sun and the moon.

When ten months had elapsed, Princess Yasodharā gave birth to Prince Anomadassī in Sudassana Park. On his naming day, he was given the name of Anomadassī by wise men because, while [142] he was in the womb, there was incessant falling from the sky of the jewels called Anoma.

Early Life

When the Bodhisatta, Prince Anomadassī, came of age, he lived a divine-like household in three palaces: Sirī, Upasirī and Sirivaḍḍha, with his consort Sirimā, and being entertained and waited upon by 23,000 female attendants for 10,000 years.

While he was thus living, Princess Sirimā gave birth to a son, named Upavāṇa. Seeing the four omens, the Bodhisatta Prince Anomadassī went forth from household life on a palanquin and became a recluse. 30 million men, who were inspired by his act of renunciation, also became recluses like him. Surrounded by these recluses, the Bodhisatta practised the austerities (dukkara-cariyā) for ten months.

Awakening

Having practised thus, he went on alms round on the day of his Awakening on the full moon day of May (Vesākha) to the Brahmin village of Anupama. He partook of the milk rice offered by Anupamā, daughter of a wealthy man, then he passed the day in the local Sāla grove and proceeded alone to the Mahā Bodhi tree in the evening. On the way, he was given eight handfuls of grass by Anoma, the heretic. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of Arjuna tree, there appeared, under the tree, the unconquered seat (aparājita-pallaṅka), which was 38 cubits in size. Sitting on it cross-legged, he mobilized his resources of the fourfold energy and dispelled Māra’s forces and, above all, he became a Buddha, the state of a Perfectly Self-Awakened One, Lord of the Three Worlds.

Having cut off the strings of attachment to Saṁsāra and having overcome with his path-wisdom the destruction of productive deeds (kammakkhaya), which are the deeds leading to the three kinds of existence, Buddha Anomadassī was able to expound the doctrine, from the eightfold noble path to Nibbāna.

The Buddha was like an ocean, being endowed with virtues that could not be disturbed. With attributes that made it difficult for insincere persons to approach him, he was also like Mount Meru. He was also like the vault of heaven because his qualities were boundless. Magnificent with his characteristic marks, large and small, he was like a great Sāla tree in full bloom.

People were delighted with Buddha Anomadassī. Hearing the Buddha’s teaching they attained Nibbāna, which is deathless.

Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching

1. Having become a Buddha, Buddha Anomadassī stayed around the Bodhi tree for 49 days; then he accepted a Brahma’s entreaty for his teaching and he surveyed the world of beings with his Buddha’s Eye, which includes the knowledge of the inclination and latent tendencies of beings (āsayānusaya-ñāṇa), and knowledge of mature or immature controlling faculties of beings (indriya-paro-pariyatti-ñāṇa). He saw the 30 million followers who had become recluses together with him and who were endowed with the merits of their past deeds, which were conducive to attainment of the paths, fruitions and Nibbāna. Reflecting on their present whereabouts, he saw them in Sudassana Park near the city of Subhavatī. He immediately appeared in the Park by his psychic power. Being surrounded by the 30 million recluses, he taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse amidst the audience of Devas and humans. On that occasion, thousands of millions of beings realized the four truths and attained liberation.

2. At another time, when he had performed the twin miracles near an Indian Laurel (Asana) tree, close to Osadhi city, sitting on the emerald stone slab under it, he caused the rain of Abhidhamma to fall for the three months of the Rains Retreat (Vassa). Then 800 million beings penetrated the four truths and attained liberation. [143]

3. Still at a later time, when the Buddha gave an analytical discourse with regard to the blessings (Maṅgala-sutta), 780 million beings attained liberation through gaining knowledge of the four noble truths.

Three Occasions of the Disciples’ Meeting

1. There were also meetings of Buddha Anomadassī’s disciples. In the first meeting, Buddha Anomadassī recited the Monastic Rules (Pātimokkha) in the midst of 800,000 Arahats, who had already become summoned monastics out of great faith, at the time when he taught the Dhamma to King Isidatta in the city of Soreyya.

2. Again, when the Buddha was teaching King Sundarindhara Alternatively: Madhurindhara. in the city of Rādhavatī, he recited the Rules in the midst of 700,000 Arahats who had already become summoned monastics out of faith.

3. Still again, the Buddha uttered the Monastic Rules in the midst of 600,000 Arahats, who had already become summoned monastics, together with King Soreyya in the city of the same name.

The Bodhisatta as a Yakkha General

During the Dispensation of the Buddha Anomadassī, our Bodhisatta was a Yakkha general commanding many billions of powerful Yakkhas. Hearing that a Buddha has appeared in the world, he visited the Buddha and created a magnificent pavilion decorated with very beautiful gems, in which he performed a great alms giving of food, drink, etc., to the Saṅgha headed by the Buddha, for seven days.

While the Yakkha general was listening to the discourse given by the Buddha, in appreciation of the meal, the Buddha made a prophetic declaration, saying: “One immeasurable period and 100,000 aeons from the present aeon, this Yakkha general will definitely become a Buddha by the name of Gotama.”

Particulars of Buddha Anomadassī

Buddha Anomadassī’s birthplace was Candavatī city.

His father was King Yasavā and his mother was Princess Yasodharā.

He reigned for 10,000 years.

His three palaces were Sirī, Upasirī and Sirivaḍḍha.

His chief consort was Sirimā Devī, who had 23,000 maids of honours.

His son was Prince Upavāṇa.

When he renounced the world after seeing the four omens he used a golden palanquin as the vehicle.

He practised the austerities for ten months.

His two male chief disciples were Ven. Nisabba and Ven. Anoma.

His attendant was Ven. Varuṇa.

His two female chief disciples were Ven. Sundarī and Ven. Sumanā.

His Bodhi tree was an Arjuna (Ajjuna) tree.

His lay male supporters were Nandivaḍḍha and Sirivaḍḍha.

His female supporters were Uppalā and Padumā.

Buddha Anomadassī’s height was 58 cubits.

Like the newly rising sun, the radiance from his body shone as far as twelve leagues. [144]

The lifespan during the time of Buddha Anomadassī was 100,000 years. He lived throughout the period equal to four-fifths of this lifespan, rescuing beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, from the flood-waters of Saṁsāra and placed them on the shore of Nibbāna.

Buddha Anomadassī’s Dispensation, consisting of his noble teaching, was resplendent with noble ones who were Arahats, undisturbed by pleasant and unpleasant conditions of the world and free of passions and other defilements.

Buddha Anomadassī, who possessed boundless retinue and fame, and his two chief disciples and others, who were possessors of peerless qualities, have all vanished. Unsubstantial and futile indeed are all conditioned things!

Buddha Anomadassī, conqueror of the five kinds of death (māra), attained Parinibbāna in Dhammārāma Park. The shrine built and dedicated to him, in that very Park, was 25 leagues high.

Two persons, who would become the Vens. Sāriputta and Moggallāna, wished in the presence of Buddha Anomadassī for the state of chief disciples. This will be narrated later in the section on the Saṅgha Jewel.