Kakusandha was born in Khemavati Park in Khemavati according to the Theravada tradition. His father was Aggidatta, a chaplain of the king Khemankara of Khemavati. His mother was Visakha. His wife was Virochamana (also known as Rocani); he had a son, Uttara (son of Kakusandha).
Ashoka visited Gotihawa during his trip to
Lumbini, Nepal, and installed a stone pillar, inscribing his visit on it. There is also a stupa in Gothihawa. Therefore, it is generally accepted that the stupa is associated with the nirvana of Kakusandha Buddha. Kakusandha lived for four thousand years in the household in three palaces: Ruci, Suruci and Vaddhana (or Rativaddhana). At the age of four thousand, he renounced worldly life while riding on a chariot. He practised austerities for eight months. Before attaining enlightenment, he had accepted some milk-rice from the daughter of the Brahmin Vajirindha of the village Suchirindha, as well as grass for his seat from the yavapalaka Subhadda. He attained
enlightenment under a sirisa tree, then delivered his first sermon to the assembly of eighty-four thousand monks in a park near
Makila. Kakusandha performed the
twin miracle under a sala tree, at the gates of Kannakujja. Among his converts was a fierce
yaksha named Naradeva. Kakusandha kept the fast-day (
uposatha) every year. His chief disciples were Vidhura and Sanjiva among the monks, and Sama and Champa among the nuns. His personal attendant was Buddhija. Acchuta and Samana among the men, and Nanda and Sunanda among the women were his chief lay-supporters. Acchuta built a monastery for Kakusandha Buddha on the same site, which was later chosen by
Anathapindika for the
jetavanaramaya for
the Buddha. According to the
Saṃyutta Nikāya (ii.194), the Vepulla peak of
Rajgir was then called Pachinvamsa and the people of the region Tivara. Kakusandha's body was forty cubits in height, and he died at the age of forty thousand years in Khemavati. The stupa erected over his relics was one league high. ==See also==