The first of the twenty-four Buddhas.
He was born in Rammavatí,
his father being King Sudeva (v.l. Sumedha) and
his mother Sumedhá.
For ten thousand years he lived in the household, in three palaces, Hamsá, Końcá and Mayúrá.
His wife was Padumá and his son Usabhakkhandha (Samavatakkhandha).
He left home on an elephant and practised austerities for ten months.
His Bodhi-tree was the Pipphalí and grass for his seat was given by an Ájívaka named Sunanda.
His first sermon was preached at Nandáráma (Sunandáráma) 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 Nandáráma at the age of one hundred thousand years and his thúpa was thirty-six yojanas high.
Sumangala and Tissa were his chief monks,
Nandá and Sunandá his chief nuns, while
Ságata (v.l. Nanda) was his constant attendant.
Tapassu and Bhallika were his chief lay patrons among men and Sirimá and Soná among women.
It was during the time of Dípankara 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 Dípankara'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. Dípankara.-See Buddhappiya.