The nineteenth of the twenty four Buddhas. He was born in the Khema park in Bandhumatí, his father being Bandhumá and his mother Bandhumatí. He belonged to the Kondañña gotta. For eight thousand years he lived as a householder in three palaces: Nanda, Sunanda and Sirimá. His body was eighty cubits in height. His wife was Sutaná (v.l. Sudassaná) and his son Samavattakkhandha. He left the household in a chariot and practised austerities for eight months. Just before his enlightenment, the daughter of Sudassana setthi gave him milk rice, while a yavapálaka named Sujáta gave grass for his seat. His bodhi was a pátali tree. He preached his first sermon in Khemamigadáya to his step brother Khandha and his purohita's son Tissa; these two later became his chief disciples. His constant attendant was Asoka; Candá and Candamittá were his chief women disciples. His chief lay patrons were Punabbasummitta and Nága among men, and Sirimá and Uttará among women. He died in Sumittáráma at the age of eighty thousand, and his relics were enshrined in a thúpa seven leagues in height. The Bodhisatta was a Nága king named Atula. (Bu.xx.1ff.; BuA.195f.; D.ii.2ff).
Three reasons are given for the name of this Buddha (BuA.195; cf. DA.ii.454; SA.ii.15): (1) Because he could see as well by night as by day; (2) because he had broad eyes; (3) because he could see clearly after investigation. Vipassí held the uposatha only once in seven years (DhA.iii.236), but on such occasions the whole Sangha was present (Sp.i.186). The construction of a Gandhakuti for Vipassí brought Mendaka great glory in the present age. Mendaka's name at the time was Avaroja (DhA.iii.364f). Aññákondañña was then known as Cúlakála, and nine times he gave Vipassí Buddha the first fruits of his fields. DhA.i.81f.