Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c35.1586

v2.c35.1586

On the day that the Buddha renounced the world, Sakka sent Vissakamma in the guise of a shampooer to bathe him and clothe him in his royal ornaments¹²; he also sent him to adorn Temiya on the day he left the kingdom.¹³ Vissakamma erected the jewelled pavilion, twelve leagues in compass, under the Gaṇḍamba, where the Buddha performed the Twin Miracle and built the three stairways of jewels, silver and gold, used by the Buddha in his descent from Tāvatiṃsa to Saṅkassa.¹⁴ He built the pavilions in which the Buddha and five hundred arahants travelled to Uggapura, at the invitation of Culla-Subhaddā.¹⁵ When Ajātasattu deposited his share of the Buddha’s relics in a thūpa, Sakka ordered Vissakamma to construct around the thūpa a vālasaṅghātayanta (revolving wheel?) to prevent anyone from approaching the relics. Later, when Dhammāsoka (Piyadassi) wished to obtain these relics for his vihāra, Vissakamma appeared before him in the guise of a village youth and, by shooting an arrow at the controlling screw of the machine, stopped its revolutions.¹⁶ He constructed the jewelled pavilion in which Sonuttara placed the relics he brought from the Nāga-world till the time came for them to be deposited in the Mahā Thūpa,¹⁷ and on the day of their enshrinement, Vissakamma, acting on Sakka’s orders, decorated the whole of Ceylon.¹⁸ He also provided the bricks used in the construction of the Mahā Thūpa.¹⁹ Sometimes he would enter into a workman’s body and inspire him with ideas—e.g., in designing the form of the Mahā Thūpa.²⁰ He was also responsible for the construction of the golden vase in which the branch of the Bodhi-tree was conveyed to Ceylon.²¹