Biography (ජීවිත කථාව)
Birth and family
Tradition records Koṇḍañña’s birth in a prosperous royal city, to a ruling family. As with many past Buddhas, he was raised amid abundance before turning toward renunciation.
Era and lifespan
Koṇḍañña lived in a distant world cycle long before our current Mahā‑kalpa. Texts describe very long human lifespans in his era, reflecting the moral purity of that age.
Renunciation and enlightenment
After witnessing the four sights—old age, sickness, death, and a renunciant—Koṇḍañña left palace life, practiced diligently, and attained enlightenment beneath a sacred tree, rediscovering the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.
Teachings and disciples
His first sermon set the Dharma wheel in motion for early disciples. The Sangha flourished, with many arahants attaining liberation under his guidance.
Symbolic meaning (සංකේතමය අර්ථය)
Koṇḍañña embodies the continuity of awakening across immeasurable ages. His life illustrates the universal pattern: privilege humbled by impermanence, renunciation guided by wisdom, and compassion flowering into a living community.
Sources and Further Reading (මූලාශ්ර සහ වැඩිදුර කියවීම)
- Buddhavaṃsa — SuttaCentral (English)
- Buddhavaṃsa — SuttaCentral (Pāli)
- Koṇḍañña Buddha — Wikipedia
- Koṇḍañña Buddha — Dhamma Wiki