MN 116At Isigili

– Middle Discourses 116

At Isigili

So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, on the Isigili Mountain. There the Buddha addressed the mendicants, “Mendicants!”

“Venerable sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“Mendicants, do you see that Mount Vebhāra?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It used to have a different label and description. Do you see that Mount Paṇḍava?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It too used to have a different label and description. Do you see that Mount Vepulla?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It too used to have a different label and description. Do you see that Mount Vulture’s Peak?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It too used to have a different label and description. Do you see that Mount Isigili?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It used to have exactly the same label and description.

Once upon a time, five hundred Independent Buddhas dwelt for a long time on this Isigili. They were seen entering the mountain, but after entering were seen no more. When people noticed this they said: ‘That mountain swallows these seers!’ That’s how it came to be known as Isigili, the “seer-swallower”.

I shall declare the names of the Independent Buddhas; I shall extol the names of the Independent Buddhas; I shall teach the names of the Independent Buddhas. Listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”

“Yes, sir,” they replied. The Buddha said this:

“The independent Buddhas who dwelt for a long time on this Isigili were named Ariṭṭha, Upariṭṭha, Tagarasikhī, Yasassin, Sudassana, Piyadassin, Gandhāra, Piṇḍola, Upāsabha, Nīta, Tatha, Sutavā, and Bhāvitatta.