Kassapa Buddha is known all-over as the twenty-fourth Buddha of the Pali tradition; and also he is one of the seven Buddhas declared in Pali rule. Besides, he is also considered as the third Buddha of the present aeon (Bhadda Kappa).
Kassapa was born in the Deer Park of the Isipatana. He was born when king Kiki was ruling Varanasi. He was the son of Brahmadatta and Dhanavati and belonged to the Kassapa gotta. His wife was Sunanda; and son's name was Vijitasena. He lived the house-hold life for two thousand years and lived in the palaces called Hamsa, Yasa and Sirinanda. Then he refused to live the worldly life.
His wife offered him the milk-rice; and Soma gave him the grass for his seat just before his explanation. Yana was the name of his Bodhi tree. He gave his first lecture in Isipatana to one crore priests; and showed his twin miracles on the foot of an asana tree outside Sundaranagara. Many tradition are connected with him; and the story of the exchange of the Yakkha Naradeva is much more interesting. Tissa and Bharadvaja were his chief priests; and Anula and Uruvela were his most well-known followers among the priests. His attendant was Sabbamitta. It is said that the golden skin tone of Maha Kacchana was due to his offering of a golden brick to the Kassapa’s temple.
Kassapa Buddha lived for twenty thousand years and died in Setavya Park in Kashi.
During the time of Kassapa Buddha the Bodhisatta lived as a Brahmin youth by the name Jotipala.
Faxian (Fahsien) and Xuangzang (Huan Tsang) also refer to the real life of the Kassapa’s temple.