According to the Buddhavaá¹Âsa and Buddhist mythology, Sikhë (PÃÂli), is the twenty-third of twenty-eight Buddhas. The penultimate Buddha of the Alamkarakalpa (Adorned Eon), Sikhë was preceded by Vipassë Buddha and succeeded by Vessabhà « Buddha.
He was called Sikhë because his unhisa (turban) looked like a sikha (flame).
According to the Buddhavamsa as well as traditional Buddhist legend, Sikhë lived 31 kalpas â many billions of years â before the present time. He was born in Aruá¹Âavatë, which is located in the Dhule district of Maharashtra, in present-day India. His family was of the Kshatriya varna, which constituted the ruling and military elite of the Vedic period. His father was Aruá¹Âa the warrior-chief, and his mother was PabhÃÂvatë. His wife was Sabbakama, and he had a son named Atula.
Sikhë lived in the palaces of Sucanda, Giri and VÃÂhana for 7,000 Days (7,000 years according to the legends) until he renounced his worldly life, riding out of the palace on an elephant. He practiced asceticism for eight months before attaining enlightenment under a pundarika tree. Just prior to achieving buddhahood, he accepted a bowl of milk rice from the daughter of Piyadassë (a sethi from the town of Sudassana Nigama), and sat on a grass seat prepared by Anomadassi, an ÃÂjëvika ascetic.
Sources differ as to how long Sikhë lived. He was reported to have died in Dussarama (or Assarama), somewhere near the Silavati River, at the age of either 37,000 or 70,000 Days.
Sikhë was 37 cubits tall, which is roughly equal to . His body radiated light for a distance of three leagues, which is roughly equal to .
Sikhë preached his first sermon in Migachira Park to 100,000 disciples, his second sermon to 80,000 disciples, and his third sermon to 70,000 disciples.
He demonstrated his twin miracle at a place near Suriyavati under a champaka tree. Abhibhu and Sambhava were his chief monk disciples; and Akhila (or Makhila) and Paduma were his principal female disciples. His chief attendant was Khemankara. Sirivaddha and Chanda (or Nanda) were his chief male patrons; and Chitta and Sugutta were the chief among the women.