Kanakamuni

Kanakamuni (P. Koṇāgamana; T. gser thub; C. Junahanmouni[fo] 拘那含牟尼[佛]) is the second buddha of the "fortunate eon" (bhadrakalpa), according to traditional sources of both the Pali and Sanskrit traditions. This buddha is included in the following lists:

• one of the "seven buddhas" (saptatathāgata) identified in the early Buddhist texts
• one of the twenty-nine buddhas listed in Buddhavamsa of the Pali tradition
• one of the 1000 buddhas of this Fortunate Eon in the Sanskrit tradition

The Tibetan translation of this name (gser thub) means "Golden Capable One."

Biography

Sanskrit tradition

The Fortunate Eon Sutra states:

The birthplace of the thus-gone Kanakamuni is known as Fifth City. His family was brahmin. His light extended across half a league. Fire Gift was his father. Highest was his mother. Victorious Army was his son. Auspicious One was his attendant. Highest was foremost in terms of insight. Victory was foremost in terms of miraculous abilities. His first congregation consisted of seventy thousand monks, his second of sixty thousand monks, and his third of fifty thousand monks. The extent of his lifespan was thirty thousand years. His sacred Dharma remained for a thousand years. His relics remained in a single collection. There was also only one stūpa.

Pali tradition

The Great Chronicle of Buddhas states:

• Buddha Konagamana's birthplace was Sobhavati City ruled over by King Sobha; his father was Brahmin Yannadatta and his mother Uttara, a Brahmin lady.

• He reigned for three thousand years; he lived in three palatial mansions: Tusita, Santusita and Santuttha.

• His wife was Rucigatta, a Brahmin lady having a retinue of sixteen thousand Brahmin women; his son was Satthavaha.

• He renounced the world riding an elephant after seeing the four omens; he practised dukkaracariya for six months.

• His two Chief Disciples were Bhiyyosa Thera and Uttara Thera; his attendant was Sotthija Thera.

• His two female Chief Disciples were Samudda Theri and Uttara Theri; his Bodhi Tree was an udumbara.

• His noble supporters were the wealthy men Ugga and Somadeva; his female supporters were Sivala Upasika and Sama Upasika.

• Buddha Konagamana's height was thirty cubits; he was adorned with the rays of six colours like the pure gold in the goldsmith's crucible.

• The life-span during Buddha Konagamana's time was thirty thousand years. For four-fifths of the life-span he lived, rescuing beings - humans, Devas and Brahmas - from the waters of samsara to place them on the shores of Nibbana.

• In order that beings could stay and worship on the cetiya platform of Insight Wisdom (Vipassana Nana Panna), Buddha Konagamana constructed the cetiya of thirty-seven constituents of Enlightenment' (Bodhipakkhiya Dhamma), that was adorned with the banner of the Four Noble Truths, and made the 'bouquet of Dhamma', after which with his Sangha Disciples he attained Parinibbana and became extinct.

According to Xuanzang, Koṇāgamana's relics were held in a stupa in Nigalisagar, in what is now Kapilvastu District in southern Nepal.

Gallery

• 

  Pillar erected by King Ashoka to commemorate the birthplace of Koṇāgamana Buddha. Nigalihawa, Kapilvastu District, Nepal (inscription on the smaller fragment)

• 

  Birthplace of Koṇāgamana Buddha. Nigalihawa, Kapilvastu District, Nepal

• 

  Statue commemorating the birthplace of Koṇāgamana Buddha. Nigalihawa, Kapilvastu District, Nepal

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• Dharmachakra Translation Committee (2023), Good Eon Sutra , 84000 Reading Room
• Dudjom Rinpoche (2011), A Torch Lighting the Way to Freedom: Complete Instructions on the Preliminary Practices, translated by Padmakara Translation Group, Shambhala 
• Mingun Sayadaw (1992), "Chapter 23: Koṇāgamana Buddhavamsa", in Ko Lay, U; Tin Lwin, U, The Great Chronicles of Buddhas, Volume One, Part Two, Yangon, Myanmar: Nibbana.com 

External links

• Koṇāgamana, Wikipedia