Isigili Sutta:

Discourse relating to Mount Isigili

By Premasara EPASINGHE

There is a mountain in India called Isigili. The people believed that the mountain ‘swallows sages'. Therefore, the mountain was known as Isigili. The Isigili Sutta is woven around and relates to Pacceka Buddhas (silent Buddhas).

Isigili Sutta, in the Catubhanavarapali is extracted from the Majjima Nikaya. The other Sutta from Majjima Nikaya is Saccavibhangasutta.

Geographically, India is a vast land. There are a number of mountains. Out of them the pinnacle is undoubtedly the Himalayas. During the Buddha era, the Buddhist literature refers to a number of mountains, such as Mount Vebhara, Mount Pandava, Vepulla and Gijjakuta. All the mountains were known by other names too. But Mount Isigili always had the same name.

Pacceka Buddhas

There was an interesting story connected with Mount Isigili. In the past there lived about 100 Pacceka Buddhas at the Mount Isigili. They were seen entering the mountain, but were not seen after they had entered. They never returned.

The story reminds us of the “mysterious hanging rock cave of Melbourne, Australia,” where three girls, went missing out of 100 girls, who went on an expedition to see the amazing mountain.

I visited the miraculous rock which resembles Sigiriya rock fortress.There are 21 verses in Isigili Sutta which begins with Evam me sutam: Ekam samayam Bhagava Rajagahe Viharati Isigilimim Pabbate. (Thus it has been heard by me; once upon a time the Buddha was sojourning at Rajagaha in Mount Isigili.) In the Isigili Sutta the Blessed One gave a list of names of the silent Buddhas who inhabited Mount Isigili.

In the Sutta, the Buddha requests us to worship all the Pacceka Buddhas who had attained Nibbana.

In the seventh verse it states: Bhutapubbam Bhikkave Panca Pacceka – Buddhasatani (these are the Buddhas who arise when there are no Sammasambuddhas or Fully Enlightened One such as Gautama Buddha, but they cannot convince others how to achieve sainthood). Imasmin Isigilismim Pabbate Ciranivasino Ahesum, Te imam Pabatam Pavisanta, Dissanti Pavittha na Dissanti. Tam-enam Manussa Disva Evam Ahamsu: “Ayam Pabbagato ime isi gilati ti.” “Isigili” Isigilitawa Samanna Udapadi (Formerly, in this Mount Isigili there were 500 silent Buddhas.

They are seen entering the mountain, but are not seen after they have entered. People said, “The mountain swallows the Sages.” Therefore, the name Isigili came into existence.

From the 9th verse the Buddha mentions the names of the silent Buddhas Arittha, Uparittha, Tagarashiki, Yassasi, Sudassana, Piyadassi, Gandhara, Pindola, Upasabha, Nitha, Tatha, Sutavantu and Bhavitatta.

Impurities

Gautama Buddha said, the noble beings are free from suffering and desire they uprooted the impurities.In the Isigili Sutta, after the completion of the 21st verse – Bhavitatto Nama Bhikkave Paccekasmabuddho, Imasmin Isigilismin Pabbate Ciranivrsi Ahosi Ti - A fully enlightened silent Buddha by the name Bhavitatta, was living in the Mount Isigili.Then, there are additional 12 verses which give the names of the Paccekha Buddhas.

They are as follows:

Arittha, Uparittha, Tagarasikkhi, Yassasi, Sudassana, Piyadassi, Gandhara, Pindola, Upasabha, Nitha, Tatha, Sutavantu, Bhavitatta, Sumbha, Subha, Methula, Atthama, Megha, Anigha, Sudata Jali Junior, Jali senior Atthaka, Buddha Kosala, Subahu, Upanemisa, Nemisa, Santacitta, Sacca, Thatha Viraja, Pandita, Kala, Upakala, Vijita, Jita, Anga, Panga, Gutijjita, Pasi and Aparajita, all of them conquered the power of Mara.

The other silent Buddhas were Sattha, Pavatta, Sarabhanga, Lomahamsa, Uccarigamaya, Asita, Anavasa, Manomaya, Bandumantu, Tadadhimutta, Vimala, Ketumantu, Ketumbarasa, Matanga, Ariya, Accuta, Accutagamabyamaka, Sumangala, Dabbila, Suppatitthita, Asayha, Khemabhirata, Sorata, Durannya, Sangha, Uccaya, Ananda, Nanda, Upananda, Bharadhavaja, Bodhi, Mahanama, Uttara, Kesi, Sikhi, Sundara, Tissa, Upahssa, Mangala, Usabho, Upanita, Uposatha, Sundara, Saccanama, Jeta, Jayanta, Padume, Uppala, Padumuttara, Rakkhita, Pabbata, Manatthaddha, Sobitha and Kanha.

The great silent Buddhas have destroyed all attachments. Therefore, worship those innumerable Buddhas who have attained Enlightenment.