Buddhavamsa

The fourteenth book of the Khuddaka Nikāya (DA.i.17).

The Dīgha-bhānakas excluded it from the canon, but it was accepted by the Majjhima-bhānakas (DA.i.17).

It contains, in verse, the lives of the twenty five Buddhas, of whom Gotama was the last. The name of the Bodhisatta under each Buddha is also given. The last chapter deals with the distribution of Gotama's relics.

It is said (Bu.i.74) that the Buddhavamsa was preached, at Sāriputta's request, at the Nigrodhārāma in Kapilavatthu, after the Buddha had performed the miracle of the Ratanacankama. The Commentary on the Buddhavamsa is known as the Madhurattha-vilāsinī (q.v.).

The Gandhavamsa (p.61) speaks of a Buddhavamsa written by an author named Kassapa. This is probably not the same work. Mention is also made (Gv.60) of a Tīkā to the Buddhavamsa, Paramatthadīpāni by name.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Buddhavaṃsa

The fourteenth book of the Khuddaka Nikāya of the Pāli Canon. It is a work in verse whose author is not known. In it Gautama (Pāli, Gotama) Buddha relates the lives of the 24 Buddhas who preceded him, and his former actions in relation to those Buddhas. His name as a former Bodhisattva (Pāli, Bodhisatta) under each Buddha is also given. It is said that the Buddhavaṃsa was preached, at Śāriputra's request, after the Buddha had performed the miracle of the ratanacaṇkama (jewelled walk) and the introductory chapter of this work is called the Ratanacaṇkamana-khandha. The last chapter deals with the distribution of Gautama's relics. The commentary on the Buddhavaṃsa is known as the Madhuratthavilāsinī.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)