Kondanna- Buddhist FigureMortal"First of the Five Ascetics"

Ascetic Companion of Siddhartha

Before his awakening, the future Buddha Siddhartha Gotama practiced severe austerities for six years. Five ascetics attended him during this period, recognizing the intensity of his practice and expecting him to achieve a breakthrough. Koṇḍañña was the eldest and most senior among them. According to the Mahavagga, he had been present at Siddhartha's naming ceremony as a young brahmin and had predicted that the prince would certainly become a Buddha, while the other brahmins hedged their predictions between a great king and a Buddha.

When Siddhartha abandoned extreme austerity and accepted food, the five ascetics left him in disgust, believing he had given up the spiritual quest. They traveled to the Deer Park at Isipatana (Sarnath) near Varanasi and continued their own ascetic practices there, waiting for what they assumed was a fallen companion to return to his senses.

The First Understanding

After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, the Buddha traveled to the Deer Park to seek out the five ascetics. The Mahavagga records that they initially resolved to show him no special respect, but as he approached, the radiance of his bearing compelled them to rise and receive him. The Buddha delivered the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, setting forth the Middle Way between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, and expounding the Four Noble Truths.

Koṇḍañña was the first to penetrate the teaching. The Samyutta Nikaya records the moment: "Whatever is subject to arising is subject to cessation" arose in Koṇḍañña as the Dhamma eye. The Buddha exclaimed, "Aññāsi vata bho Koṇḍañño" — "Koṇḍañña has indeed understood" — and from that moment he became known as Aññā Koṇḍañña, "Koṇḍañña Who Has Understood." He received ordination through the simple formula "ehi bhikkhu" (come, monk), becoming the first ordained member of the Sangha.

After hearing the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta five days later, Koṇḍañña attained full arahantship along with the other four ascetics. The Aṅguttara Nikāya later declared him foremost among the Buddha's disciples in seniority (rattaññū), a recognition of his status as the first to join the community. According to tradition, he eventually retired to the Himalayas to live in solitude, having served his role as the first witness to the turning of the wheel.