23. The Chronicle of Buddha Koṇāgamana
After Buddha Kakusandha’s attainment of Parinibbāna, in the present Fortunate Aeon (Bhadda-kappa), the lifespan of human beings gradually decreased from 40,000 years to ten years and increased to immeasurables. When it reached 30,000 years on its next decline, Bodhisatta Koṇāgamana, on his complete fulfilment of the perfections was reborn in Tusita. Having complied with the request made by Devas and Brahmas to become a Buddha, he descended to the human world to be conceived in the womb of a Brahmin lady named Uttarā, wife of the Brahmin Yaññadatta, in the city of Sobhavatī. When ten months had elapsed, he was born in Subhavatī Park.
At the time of the boy’s birth, there fell a heavy shower of gold over the whole of Jambudīpa and taking the significance of this event, “the coming down of gold from the sky,” learned readers of omens and his relatives named him Kanakāgamana
Early Life
When the boy Koṇāgamana came of age, he lived in three palatial mansions: Tusita, Santusita and Santuṭṭha. Being entertained and served by his wife Rucigattā, a Brahmin lady, and her host of 16,000 Brahmin female attendants, he thus enjoyed a divine-like household life for 3,000 years.
When Brahmin Koṇāgamana had seen the four omens while living a household life and when his wife Rucigattā had given birth to a son, named Satthavāha, he renounced the world riding an elephant. Thirty thousand men, following his example also renounced the world.
Awakening
With his 30,000 recluses Koṇāgamana practised the austerities. On the full moon of May (Vesākha), the day in which he would become a Buddha, he partook of the milk rice offered by Aggisoṇā, daughter of Aggisoṇa, and spent the daytime in the local Acacia grove. In the evening, he went alone to the Mahā Bodhi tree. On the way, he accepted eight handfuls of grass offered by Jaṭatinduka, a barley field watchman. As soon as he spread the grass at the foot of the Cluster Fig (Udumbara) Mahā Bodhi tree, there appeared the unconquered seat of 20 cubits. Sitting cross-legged on the seat, he concentrated his energy at four levels in the same manner as previous Buddhas, and became a Buddha.
Three Occasions of the Buddha’s Teaching
1. After becoming a Buddha, Buddha Koṇāgamana stayed in the neighbourhood of the Mahā Bodhi tree for 49 days. Having accepted a Brahma’s request for his teaching, he contemplated who he should teach first, and he saw the 30,000 recluses who were his companions in renunciation. By his psychic power, he immediately appeared at their residence in the Isipatana Deer Park, near the city of Sudassana. Sitting in the middle of these recluses, he taught the Dhamma Wheel (Dhamma-cakka) discourse, which was also taught by previous Buddhas, and which Devas and Brahmas went to listen to. By the end of this discourse, 300 billion Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
2. At a later time, when Buddha Koṇāgamana displayed the twin miracle of water and fire near the Sāla tree, close to the city gate of Sundara, and eradicated wrong views and taught Dhamma, 200 billion Devas and humans attained the paths and fruitions.
3. After displaying the twin miracle, Buddha Koṇāgamana went to Tāvatiṁsa and sat on the stone-slab placed at the foot of the Pāricchattaka tree, he taught Abhidhamma to Devas and Brahmas who had assembled there from the 10,000 world-element. At that time, 100 billion attained the paths and fruitions.
Single Occasion of the Disciples’ Meeting
The only meeting of Buddha Koṇāgamana’s disciples took place when the Buddha was staying in a park, named Surindadeva, near the city of Sundaravatī. He taught Dhamma to princes Bhiyyosa and Uttara, who were to become his chief disciples, together with 30,000
The Bodhisatta as King Pabbata
At the time of Buddha Koṇāgamana our Bodhisatta was King Pabbata, in the city of Mithilā. He was a powerful ruler associated with strong allies. Hearing that Buddha Koṇāgamana had arrived in his city, he welcomed him with his retinue and army, invited him respectfully and performed a grand alms giving. He also requested the Buddha to observe the Rains Retreat (Vassa) in his city and he would look after him and his Saṅgha for the three months of the rainy season. Besides, he offered the Saṅgha, headed by the Buddha, cotton cloth, silk cloth, woollen cloth, golden sandals and many other things made in Pattuṇṇa country and Cīna country. The Buddha then predicted of him: “In this Fortunate Aeon, this King Pabbata will indeed become a Buddha, named Gotama.” Having heard the Buddha’s prophecy, the Bodhisatta, King Pabbata, was so pleased that he firmly resolved to fulfil the ten perfections even more energetically.
Since he was a man who had been seeking omniscience, he made a great offering of gifts to Buddha Koṇāgamana, renounced his magnificent kingship and became a monk in the presence of the Buddha.
Particulars of Buddha Koṇāgamana
Buddha Koṇāgamana’s birthplace was Sobhavatī city, which was ruled by King Sobha.
His father was the Brahmin Yaññadatta and his mother was Uttarā, a Brahmin lady.
He lived a household life for 3,000 years.
He lived in three palatial mansions: Tusita, Santusita and Santuṭṭha.
His wife was Rucigattā, a Brahmin lady, who had a retinue of 16,000 female Brahmin attendants.
His son was Satthavāha.
He renounced the world riding an elephant after seeing the four omens.
He practised the austerities for six months.
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Bhiyyosa and Ven. Uttara.
His attendant was Ven. Sotthija.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Samuddā and Ven. Uttarā.
His Bodhi tree was a Cluster Fig (Udumbara).
His noble male supporters were the wealthy men, Ugga and Somadeva.
His female supporters were Sīvalā and Sāmā.
Buddha Koṇāgamana’s height was 30 cubits.
He was adorned with the radiance of six colours like the pure gold in the goldsmith’s crucible.
The lifespan during Buddha Koṇāgamana’s time was 30,000 years. For four-fifths of this lifespan he lived, rescuing beings, such as humans, Devas and Brahmas, from the flood waters of Saṁsāra and placing them on the shores of Nibbāna.
In order that beings could stay and worship on the shrine platform of insight wisdom (vipassanā-ñāṇa-paññā), Buddha Koṇāgamana constructed the shrine of the 37 constituents of Awakening (Bodhi-pakkhiya-dhammā) that was adorned with the banner of the four noble truths, and made the “bouquet of Dhamma,” after which, with his Arahat disciples, he attained Parinibbāna.
Buddha Koṇāgamana’s disciples, who were accomplished in the exercise of supernormal powers, and Buddha Koṇāgamana, who had expounded supermundane Dhamma, all of them have passed away. Unsubstantial and futile are all conditioned things!
In this way, Buddha Koṇāgamana, who had penetrated the four noble truths and other Dhammas that should be known, attained Parinibbāna in the pleasance named Pabbata. His relics were dispersed in accordance with his resolve, reaching everywhere in Jambudīpa and were paid homage to by beings such as humans, Devas and Brahmas.