The Twenty-Four Buddhas – 194
He practised the austerities for eight months.
His two male chief disciples were Ven. Khaṇḍa and Ven. Tissa.
His attendant was Ven. Asoka.
His two female chief disciples were Ven. Candā and Ven. Candamittā.
His Bodhi tree was a Trumpet Flower tree.
His noble male lay supporters were the wealthy persons, Punabbasumitta and
Nāga.
His female supporters were Sirimā and Uttarā.
The height of Buddha Vipassī, Lord of the Three Worlds, was 80 cubits.
His radiance spread as far as seven leagues.
The lifespan during Buddha Vipassī’s time was 80,000. Living for four-fifths of
this lifespan, he rescued humans, Devas and Brahmas from the waters of
Saṁsāra and placed them on the shores of Nibbāna.
[183]
After showing the light of Dhamma and the teaching about the deathless
Nibbāna, Buddha Vipassī, with many of his Arahat disciples, finally attained
Parinibbāna like a mass of fire which becomes extinct after burning brightly.
Buddha Vipassī’s exalted power, exalted glory, and his body adorned with
characteristic marks, vanished. Unsubstantial and futile are all conditioned
things!
In this way Buddha Vipassī, conqueror of the five kinds of deaths (
māra
),
attained Parinibbāna in Sumitta Park. A seven leagues high shrine was erected
in that very Park and dedicated to him
20. The Chronicle of Buddha Sikhī
After the end of the aeon in which Buddha Vipassī appeared, no Buddhas
appeared in the world for 59 aeons as these were empty aeons (
suñña-kappas
).
There was no light of Dhamma. In fact, the total darkness of ignorance (
avijjā
)
prevailed and only Māra, the Wicked One and the defilements, reigned supreme
in the world without any opposition. It was their whim and fancy that beings
were bound to follow. When the 59 empty aeons were over, 31 aeons previous to
the present one, two Buddhas, Sikhī and Vessabhū, appeared in a two-Buddha
aeon (
maṇḍa-kappa
).