The 29 Buddhas

                         

In countries where Theravada Buddhism is practiced by the majority of people (Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Thailand), it is customary for Buddhists to hold elaborate festivals, especially during the fair weather season, to pay homage to 29 Buddhas.

These revered Buddhas include the 28 Buddhas described in Chapter 27 of the Buddhavamsa, plus Maitreya Bodhisattva, the future (and 29th) Buddha. The Buddhavamsa is a text which describes the life of Gautama Buddha and the twenty-seven Buddhas who preceded him. The Buddhavamsa is part of the Khuddaka Nikaya, which in turn is part of the Sutta Pitaka.  The Sutta Pitaka is one of three main sections of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism.

The 28 Buddhas are said to have attained enlightenment from the time

Gautama Buddha received his first Niyatha Vivarana (permission to be the 

next enlightened one) from Dīpankara Buddha.

The 28 Buddhas are not the only Buddhas believed to have existed.

Indeed, Gautama Buddha preached that innumerable Buddhas have lived

in past kalpas.

The 29 named Buddhas

The names of 29 Buddhas

1 Taṇhaṅkara

2 Medhaṅkara

3 Saraṇaṅkara

4 Dīpankara

5 Koṇḍañña

6 Maṅgala

7 Sumana

8 Revata

9 Sobhita

10 Anomadassi

11 Paduma

12 Nārada

13 Padumuttara

14 Sumedha

15 Sujāta

16 Piyadassi

17 Atthadassi

18 Dhammadassī

19 Siddharttha

20 Tissa

21 Phussa

22 Vipassī

23 Sikhī

24 Vessabhū

25 Kakusandha

26 Koṇāgamana

27 Kassapa

28 Gautama

29 Maitreya

Arya Adam Upasaka