List of the twenty-eight 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 reclining Buddha image at Wat Suthat in Thailand depicts Gautama Buddha on the verge of Parinirvana.

A statue of Gautama Buddha from Sarnath, 4th century CE.

Maitreya Buddha from the 2nd century Gandharan Art Period

The 29 named Buddhas

The names of 29 Buddhas

	Pāli name
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

See also

• Buddhavamsa
• Five Dhyani Buddhas
• List of Buddhas
• List of Buddha claimants
• List of bodhisattvas

External links

• Vipassana.info: Pali Proper Names Dictionary