Sumedha

In Buddhist mythology, Sumedha was a hermit who, millions of years before the birth of Gautama Buddha, vowed to become a buddha. He encountered the buddha Dipamkara and, inspired by the teachings, chose a longer path to buddhahood to help others achieve enlightenment. Over many lifetimes, as a bodhisattva, Sumedha accumulated merit through virtuous practices. The mythology also includes the story of Maha Maya, Gautama Buddha's mother, who dreamed of a white elephant, signifying her son would become a world ruler or a buddha. The Gandavyuha Sutra describes a young pilgrim, Sudhana, on a quest for enlightenment, encountering various teachers and experiencing a vision of interconnected existence.123