Krakucchanda

Krakucchanda (P. Kakusandha; T. 'khor ba 'jig [alt. log pa dang sel]; C. Juliusun[fo] 拘留孫[佛]) is the first 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 ('khor ba 'jig) means "Destroyer of Cyclic Existence."

Biography

Sanskrit tradition

The Fortunate Eon Sutra states:

The birthplace of the thus-gone Krakucchanda is known as Excellent City of Royal Palaces. His family line is that of Kāśyapa. His light extended across one league. Worship Gift was his father. Brahmā Victory was his mother. Supreme was his son. Perfect Wisdom was his attendant. Among his monks, Master Scholar was foremost in terms of insight. Reciter was foremost in terms of miraculous abilities. His first congregation consisted of forty thousand monks, his second of seventy thousand monks, and his third contained sixty thousand hearers. The extent of his lifespan was forty thousand years. His sacred Dharma remained for eighty thousand years. His relics remained in a single collection and were contained in a single stūpa.

Pali tradition

According to the accounts of the Pali tradition, Kakusandha was born in Khemavati Park in Khemavati. His father was Aggidatta, a chaplain of the king Khemankara of Khemavati. His mother was Visakha. His wife was Virochamana (also known as Rocani); he had a son, Uttara (son of Kakusandha).

Kakusandha lived for four thousand years in the household in three palaces: Ruci, Suruci and Vaddhana (or Rativaddhana). At the age of four thousand, he renounced the worldly life while riding on a chariot. He practised austerities for eight months. Before attaining enlightenment, he had accepted some milk-rice from the daughter of the Brahmin Vajirindha of the village Suchirindha, as well as grass for his seat from the yavapalaka Subhadda. He attained enlightenment under a sirisa tree, then delivered his first sermon to the assembly of eighty-four thousand monks in a park near Makila.

Kakusandha performed the twin miracle under a sala tree, at the gates of Kannakujja. Among his converts was a fierce yaksha named Naradeva. Kakusandha kept the fast-day (uposatha) every year.

His chief disciples were Vidhura and Sanjiva among the monks, and Sama and Champa among the nuns. His personal attendant was Buddhija. Acchuta and Samana among the men, and Nanda and Sunanda among the women were his chief lay-supporters. Acchuta built a monastery for Kakusandha Buddha on the same site, which was later chosen by Anathapindika for Jetavana Arama for Gautama Buddha.

According to the Samyutta Nikaya (ii.194), the Vepulla peak of Rajgir was then called Pachinvamsa; and the people of the region Tivara.

Kakusandha's body was forty cubits in height, and he died at the age of forty thousand years in Khemavati.

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 (1998), "Chapter 22: Kakusandha Buddhavamsa", in Ko Lay, U; Tin Lwin, U, The Great Chronicles of Buddhas, Volume One, Part Two, Yangon, Myanmar: Nibbana.com