Piyadassī
1. Piyadassī
The thirteenth of the twenty-four Buddhas. He was born in Sudhañña (Sudassana) and his mother was SucandÄ (CandÄ). He was called PiyadassÄ« because he showed many pleasing miracles. For nine thousand years he lived as a layman in three palaces: Sunimala Vimala and GiriguhÄ (GiribrahÄ). His wife was VimalÄ and his son Kañcanavela (Kañcana). He left home in a chariot and practised austerities for six months. He was given milk rice by Vasabha’s daughter and grass for his seat by the AjÄ«vaka SujÄta. His, bodhi was a Kakudha tree. Among his converts were the deva king Sudassana and the elephant Donamukha. A monk named Sona conspired with Prince MahÄpaduma to kill the Buddha, Donamukha being the elephant they used in their unsuccessful plot. cp. NÄlÄgiri.
Piyadassī’s chief disciples were PÄlita and SabbadassÄ« among monks and SujÄtÄ and DhammadinnÄ among nuns, his constant attendant being Sobhita. Sannaka and Dhammika were his chief lay patrons among men, and VisÄkhi and DhammadinnÄ among women. He lived for ninety thousand years and died at AssatthÄrÄma, his thÅ«pa being three leagues in height.
The Bodhisatta of that time was a brahmin named Kassapa, and he built a monastery for the Buddha at a cost of one hundred thousand crores. Bu.xiv.1ff.; BuA.172ff.; J.i.38f., etc. 2. PiyadassÄ«.- A Pacceka Buddha. M.iii.69; Ap.i.106. 3. PiyadassÄ« Thera.- An Arahant. He was present with sixty thousand others, from JetÄrÄma, at the foundation ceremony of the MahÄ ThÅ«pa (Dpv.xix.15; Mhv.xxix.32). He stood on the north east side at the ceremony, and at the close of it he taught DutthagÄmanÄ«. Ibid., 65; MT. 531. 4. PiyadassÄ«.- A setthi of Sudassananigama, whose daughter gave milk rice to SikhÄ« Buddha. BaA. 201. 5. PiyadassÄ«.- A Thera of Sri Lanka, incumbent of the DevarÄja vihÄra. He was a pupil of the grammarian MoggallÄna and wrote the PÄli grammar, PadasÄdhana. P.L.C. 205. 6. PiyadassÄ«.- A name for DhammÄsoka.
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