Chapter IX
millions, Buddha Tissa recited the
OvÈda PÈÔimokkha
.
(This was the second
sannipÈta
.)
Still at another time, in the city of Khemavati (Khemaka), at the assembly of the Buddha
Tissa’s relatives, after listening to the chronicle of Buddhas narrated by Him, eight million
people became
bhikkhus
in His presence and attained arahantship. Surrounded by these
bhikkhus
, Buddha Tissa recited the
OvÈda PÈÔimokkha
.
(This was the third
sannipÈta
.)
Future Buddha Gotama, as Hermit SujÈtÈ, received Prophecy from Buddha Tissa
Meanwhile our Bodhisatta was King SujÈtÈ in the city of Yasavati. His prosperous city,
his wealth worth several crores and members of his retinue, who were always willingly
attending upon him, he abandoned them all with no attachment whatsoever, as though they
were blades of grass and stalks of reeds. With his heart filled with fear of suffering in
rebirth, etc., he renounced the world and became an ascetic (even before Buddha Tissa's
appearance) and acquired great psychic power and fame. On hearing that ‚Buddha Tissa
has appeared‛, his whole body was pervaded with the five kinds of ecstasy. Most
respectfully, he approached the Buddha and paid obeisance to Him, thinking: ‚I will honour
the Buddha with such flowers as
SalaÄa
,
PÈricchattaka
and others‛. So he went to the
celestial abode by means of his psychic power and entered the garden of Cittalata, there, he
filled a basket, measuring a
gÈvuta,
with such celestial flowers and brought it across the
sky and finally honoured the Buddha with these immensely fragrant flowers.
Besides, in the middle of the assembly of four classes of people, the Bodhisatta stood,
holding over the Buddha's head a
Paduma
sunshade, which was an umbrella made of very
sweet smelling pollens, with a rod of ruby, and a pinnacle of leaves of red ruby. In this
way, he thus honoured the Buddha. Then the Buddha prophesied concerning the Bodhisatta,
SujÈtÈ the ascetic: ‚In the ninety-second aeon from the present one, this SujÈtÈ the ascetic
will become a Buddha, Gotama by name.‛
On hearing the Buddha's prophecy, Bodhisatta, SujÈtÈ the ascetic, was filled with
devotional faith and resolved to fulfil the Ten Perfections even more energetically.
Particulars of Buddha Tissa
Buddha Tissa's birthplace was Khemaka City. His father was King Janasandha and
His mother was Queen Paduma.
He reigned for seven thousand years. His three palaces were GuhÈsela, NÈrisaya
and Nisabha.
His Chief Consort was SubhaddÈ who had thirty thousand maids of honour. His
son was Prince Œnanda.
After seeing the four omens, he renounced the world riding a thoroughbred horse,
named Sonuttara. He practised
dukkaracariyÈ
for eight months.
His two male Chief Disciples were Brahmadeva Thera and Udaya Thera. His
attendant was Samanga Thera.
His two female Chief Disciples were PhussÈ TherÊ and SudattÈ TherÊ.
His Bodhi tree was an
asana
.
His noble male supporters were the wealthy persons, Sambala and SirÊmÈ. His
noble female supporters were KisÈ GotamÊ UpÈsikÈ and Upasena UpÈsikÈ.
Buddha Tissa was ten cubits tall. He was matchless and unequalled. He appeared
like a mountain in the Himalayas, to those who saw Him.
The life span of Buddha Tissa, who was endowed with incomparable psychic
power, was neither too short not too long. Buddha Tissa, the Possessor of the five
‘eyes’, lived in the world for a hundred thousand years.
SaÑvega