THE GREAT CHRONICLE OF BUDDHAS
190
(This was the first
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
At a later time, Buddha Kakusandha displayed the Twin Miracle near a
sÈla
tree, close to
the city-gate of Kannakujja and taught the Dhamma. Thirty-thousand crores of devas and
humans penetrated the Four Noble Truths and gained Emancipation.
(This was the second
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
Still at a later time, another
DhammÈbhisamaya
took place in the following manner. At a
deva shrine, not too far away from the town of KhemavatÊ, lived a divine ogre named
Naradeva. At the time of propitiation, he received, in his visible frame, honour done to him
by people. He was, however, in the habit of catching human beings who, through a difficult
road approach to a big pond in the middle of a huge forest, fetched various species of
lotus. If there were no people there, he went back to his great forest-abode and caught
those who happened to be there and devoured them.
In fact, the road through the forest was notorious for its difficult terrain. At one time, at
both ends of the forest, people were discussing among themselves as how to get through
the wilderness. At that time, after emerging from His
mahÈ karuÓÈ-samÈpatti
early in the
morning, Buddha Kakusandha surveyed the world and saw that the ogre, Naradeva, and
those people in His vision of wisdom. So, using His psychic power, He went through the
sky and, while the people were looking up, He displayed various forms of miracle. Then
He descended into Naradeva's mansion and took a seat on the ogre's splendid couch.
Naradeva became delighted the moment he saw the Buddha in the sky emitting His rays
of six colours from His body, he thought to himself: ‚The Buddha is coming here out of
compassion for me.‛ With his attendant ogres, he went to the Himalayas and brought back
aquatic and terrestrial flowers of various hues and scents. With which, he honoured the
Buddha, singing in praise of Him who was remaining on the couch. Naradeva stood with
his clasped hands touching his forehead in salutation.
On seeing the Buddha's miracles, the people's minds became serene and they all went to
the Buddha and encircling Him and paid obeisance to Him. By explaining to the ogre how
wholesome deeds are related to wholesome results, Buddha Kakusandha made the ogre
inspired and by giving a talk on abodes of intense suffering, He made him frightened.
Thereafter, the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths. At that time, countless devas and
humans penetrated the Truths and gained Emancipation.
(This was the third
DhammÈbhisamaya
.)
Single Meeting of The Disciples (SannipÈta)
There was only one meeting of Buddha Kakusandha's disciples. It took place in the
Isipatana Deer Park, near the city of KaÓÓakujja, on the full moon of MÈgha. Amidst forty
thousand
arahats
, who had been His companions in renunciation, Buddha Kakusandha
recited the
OvÈda PÈÔimokkha
.
Future Buddha Gotama, as King Khema, received Prophecy from Buddha Kakusandha
Meanwhile, our future Buddha Gotama was King Khema. Having made grand offering of
bowls and robes to the Sangha, headed by the Buddha and also having offered them such
medicinal materials as minerals for preparing eye-ointment etc. and herbs including
liquorice among others, he became so immensely pleased with the Dhamma taught by the
Buddha that he renounced the world and became a monk in the Buddha's presence. With
reference to him, the Buddha prophesied: ‚This monk Khema will indeed become a
Buddha, named Gotama, in this very
bhadda-kappa
.‛
Having heard the Buddha's prophecy, the Bodhisatta Khema became overjoyed and
determined to fulfil the ten Perfections even more energetically.
Particulars of Buddha Kakusandha
Buddha Kakusandha's birthplace was KhemavatÊ City. His father was Brahmin
Aggidatta,
purohita
to King Khemarikara, and His mother was VisÈkha, a brahmin