Dīpankara Buddha
Dīpaṃkara (दीपंकर) “Lamp bearer”
Dīpaṅkara in Pali
Chinese: 燃燈佛 Rándēng Fó
The name of Dipankara is translated as “Source of Light”. Legend says that during his birth in the city of Dipawari numerous lights miraculously appeared everywhere. That explains the origin of his name. Reflecting the symbolism, many niches for burning lamps were made in big stone statues of Dipankara. His second name, Kasyapa or Mahakasyapa, means “earth”. Most sources use this name more often.
Tibetans and Nepali people, referring to ancient texts, say that Dipankara was teaching on Swayambhu Mountain in Kathmandu valley. Now the famous stupa is located there. The cult of Dipankara is as popular as that of Buddha Shakyamuni in the valley. Numerous Dipankara statues and images are filling the altars of ancient Newa buddhist temples. Dipankara`s life story is mentioned in several sources. In particular, Gatikara Sutra tells about the meeting of the future Buddha Shakyamuni and Dipankara. In one of his former lives Buddha Shakyamuni was a young man Jotipala who received teachings and practical methods from Dipankara. Being inspired by the greatness of Buddha, Jotipala let his long hair down on dirty ground so that Dipankara didn`t soil his feet. Such devotion led him to Enlightenment many lives after. It is also said that Dipankara lived 100 000 years and his Teaching existed 100 000 years more.
Dipankara`s life story is similar to that of Shakyamuni. He was also born in a royal family, his father`s name was Sudewa and his mother`s – Sumedha. Having married a beautiful Padme, Dipankara enjoyed amenities of this world until he met the impermanence. Like prince Siddhartha, he also left the palace and practiced asceticism though this period was much shorter. In 10 months` time he reached the state of Buddha in Bodhgaya, under Pipali tree. Dipankara gave his first teachings in Nandarama where he also attained Parinirvana. Following his Teaching, 84000 disciples attained the state of Arhat.
According to some other Buddhist traditions, mainly southern, Theravada (tradition of patriarchs), Dipankara-Kasyapa is the sixth Buddha of the past (i.e. Shakyamuni is the seventh). Sometimes he is even considered to be the first of 24 Buddhas preceding Shakyamuni.
Dīpankara forms a protection mudra (abhaya mudra अभयमुद्रा “gesture of fearlessness” or symbol of good intentions; Buswell, 2013), generally with both hands. He is often depicted with the historical Buddha or Buddha of the present, Siddhārtha Gautama (सिद्धार्थ गौतम), and with Maitreya (मैत्रेय), a bodhisattva (彌勒菩薩 Mílè Púsa), who will succeed Śākyamuni one day in the future when the Doctrine (dharma धर्म) will be forgotten. Yiguandao (一貫道 Yīguàn Dào “Consistent Way”) is a Chinese sect that was founded in the 19th century; it was banned in China in 1949, but flourished in Taiwan after 1987. Yiguandao portrays Dīpankara, Gautama, and Maitreya as the Buddhas of the Past, the Present, and the Future respectively (Buddhas of Three Times).
Dīpankara is sometimes portrayed with Mañjuśrī (मञ्जुश्री), the bodhisattva associated with wisdom (prajñā प्रज्ञा) and Vajrapāṇi (वज्रपाणि), the bodhisattva protector and guide of Gautama Buddha. The Buddhas of Bamyan (巴米揚大佛) in Afghanistan (on the Silk Road) portrayed monumental Buddhist statues from the 6th-century (Gall, 2006). They were destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001. After the destruction, caves containing wall paintings were discovered. One of the Buddhas of Bamiyan was said to portray Dīpankara. Statues of Dīpankara can also be found in the Longmen and Yungang Grottoes in China.
According to some Buddhist traditions, Dīpankara (also Dīpamkara) was a Buddha who reached enlightenment eons prior to Gautama, the historical Buddha. Generally, Buddhists believe that there has been a succession of many Buddhas in the distant past and that many more will appear in the future; Dīpankara, then, would be one of numerous previous Buddhas, while Gautama was the most recent, and Maitreya will be the next Buddha in the future.
Chinese Buddhism tends to honor Dīpankara as one of many Buddhas of the past. Dīpankara, Gautama (Buddha of the present), and Maitreya (Buddha of the future), collectively form the Buddhas of Three Times.
One story shown in Buddhist art stupas has Gautama Buddha (also known as Shakyamuni) in a former incarnation known as Sumedha, a rich Brahmin turned hermit kneeling and laying his long black hair on the ground, in an act of piety that the prophet Dipankara could cross a puddle of mud without soiling his feet.
This story between Dipankara Buddha and Shakyamuni, occurred many lifetimes before Shakyamuni's eventual enlightenment. From this act, Dipankara told Sumedha "In the ages of the future you will come to be a Buddha called 'Shakyamuni'", to which Sumedha replied, "I am to become a Buddha, awakened to enlightenment; may you tread with your feet on my hair - on my birth, old age, and death." Dipankara Buddha then said, "Freed from human existence, you will become an effective teacher, for the sake of the world. Born among the Shakyas, as the epitome of the Triple World, the Lamp of all Beings, you will be known as Gauthama. You will be the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. Shariputta and Moggallana will be your chief disciples. Your caretaker will name as Ananda."
In the 40-plus years of his life after enlightenment, the Buddha Shakayamuni is said to have recounted almost 554 past life stories, (called Jataka tales) of his prior existences. Gauthama Bodisatta is quoted as saying a person starts the journey to become a Buddha filling 10 Paramita or "perfections". Some sources and scriptures recount that Shakayamuni Buddha was born in the time of Dipankara Buddha, and was rich and gave away all his wealth to become a Monk. It is said that Gauthama Bodisatta received his first Niyatha Vivarana, (or definite foresighting by a Buddha) from Dipankara Buddha. This encounter, among many other predictions of Shakyamuni Buddha's future enlightenment, can be found in a Mahayana text named the Sangatha Sutra.
The Four first Buddhas
1. Tṛṣṇaṃkara
Kshatriya (second-highest of the four castes or varnas in traditional Indian society: the warrior or military caste). He was born in Puphavedi to the King Sunanda and Queen Sunandā. When he became a king, he reigned over his country for ten thousand years. After his son was born, he decided to leave the castle and begin practicing. He practiced asceticism for seven days. He attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Alstonia scholaris.
2. Medhaṃkara
He was also the second Buddha of the Sāramaṇḍa kalpa (The world where four Buddhas are born). He was born in Yaghara to King Sudeva and Queen Yasodharā. When he became an adult, he succeeded his father.
3. Śaraṇaṃkara
He was born in Vipula. His parents were king Sumaṅgala and Queen Yasavadi. When he became an adult, he succeeded and reigned over the country.
4. Dīpaṃkara
Brahmin (member of the highest of the four major castes of traditional Indian society, responsible for officiating at religious rites and studying and teaching the Vedas). Dīpankara told Sumedha "In the ages of the future you will come to be a Buddha called 'Shakyamuni'".
References
Buswell, Robert Jr., ed. (2013). Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 2. ISBN 9780691157863.
McArthur, Meher. Reading Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Guide to Buddhist Signs and Symbols. Thames & Hudson, 2004.
Kumar, Nitin. “Mudras of the Great Buddha: Symbolic Gestures and Postures.” Exotic India Art. Web. Accessed 28 Jan. 2017. https://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/mudras/aff10490/
Gall, Carlotta (5 December 2006). "Afghans consider rebuilding Bamiyan Buddhas". International Herald Tribune/The New York Times. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhahood#Lists_of_Buddhas
"Scientitsts discover first-ever oil paintings in Afghanistan". Earthtimes.org. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
Highfield, Roger (22 April 2008). "Oil painting invented in Asia, not Europe". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008. However, the press release picked up by media, clearly misdates the earliest uses of oil paint in Europe, which is fully described in a treatise by Theophilus Presbyter of 1100-1120, and may date back to the Ancient Romans. See: Rutherford John Gettens, George Leslie Stout, 1966, Courier Dover Publications, ISBN 0-486-21597-0 Painting Materials: A Short Encyclopedia (online text), p. 42 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-29.
