Arahat Sivali, the ‘Prince of Receivers’
By Premasara EPASINGHE
In some of our conservative Buddhist homes, even today, they hang a
painting of a serene Bhikkhu in a sitting posture with a bowl in his
hands. It is the well-known Arahat Sivali, foremost among recipients.
Buddhists are of the opinion that by displaying a picture in their homes
brings them good fortune, prosperity and bountiful of crops and food
throughout the year.
The story of Maha Arahat Sivali is fascinating. In Buddhist
literature there are many who were well-known in the art of giving.
Among them Ven. Sivali became the ‘Prince of Receivers'.
One day when the Bhikkhus were discussing the suffering Arahat
Sivali, underwent as a baby in her mother's womb. His mother Suppavasa,
a daughter of Koliya clan was carrying him for seven years and seven
days. The child inside Suppavasa's womb lay awry. She was stricken with
an acute pain. She thought, only the Blessed One would be able to save
her from suffering. She requested her husband to meet the Buddha and
convey the news of her great suffering. The Buddha said: “May Suppavasa,
the young woman of Koliya clan, be healthy and happy. May she bring
forth a healthy son”.
When the Buddha uttered the above words, she delivered a healthy baby
son. For seven days, Suppavasa and her husband offered alms to the
Blessed One at their mansion.
Extraordinary child
Sivali was an extraordinary child. In the Samsara, he had collected
many merits by offering alms. During the dispensation of Buddha Vipassi
something notable happened to Sivali. During the time, the King and his
subjects were competitive with one another in the art of giving or
offering Buddha Vipassi. Strongly, when the turn of giving-alms to
Buddha Vipassi, the people ran short of milk and honey.
They kept a man near the city gates with sufficient money to buy milk
and honey from a vendor. When the vendor arrived, he first wanted to
sell curd and honey for two thousand ‘Kahavanus’, but, when he learned
that it was to be offered to Buddha Vipassi, the vendor was prepared to
give milk and honey free.
The vendor had one aspiration. One day he wanted to be the head of
recipients. After the vendor died, he was conceived in the womb of
Suppavasa.
There were many windfalls to the family after he was conceived. But
both mother and son suffered for a demeritorious deed (Akusala Kamma) in
an early birth and suffered during the lone abnormal pregnancy period –
seven years seven days. The grief stricken husband left home for a few
days and returned home with joy, when the baby boy was born. As the
gloom turned to joy and mirth, merriment and happiness the child was
named Sivali.
First stream
Sivali at the parting of the first lock of hair entered the first
stream towards the realisation of liberation, leading to Arahatship, and
at the parting of the last lock of hair, became a fully-fledged Arahat.
Thus among the noble Sangha – or Order of the disciples of the Buddha”,
Arahat Sivali was the foremost among recipients.
In the Dhammapada, the “Classic of Asia” or “Measure of Truth”, in
the Brahmana Vagga – the stanza number 414 says:
Yo Imam Palipatham Duggam
Samasaram Mohamaccaga
Tinno Paragato Jhayi
Anejo Akkathakathi
Anupadaya Nibbuto
Tam Aham Brumi Brahmanam
(He who has traversed this difficult path of Samsara full of
defilements and illusion, who has reached the other shore, who is
meditative, firm, free of doubts, unfettered and serene, him I call a
Brahmana.)
The Enlightened One uttered the above stanza, which was woven round
foremost among Recipients – Venerable Arahat Sivali.
The Blessed One, explained and defined a true Brahmana as one who has
crossed the soft wet ground of passion, one who has gone beyond the
difficult terrain of blemishes, that is hard to travel or extend across
(an area) and has crossed the cycle of existence.
He has totally and fully reached the other shore. He is a mediator
and is bereft or deprived of a power or quality. His spiritual doubts
are all resolved. He is no longer given to grasping. He is cool. Such a
person is a true Brahamana.
Sivali Pirith
In the number 4 of the sub-section of the ‘Piruvana Poth Vahanse’,
one comes across the ‘Sivali Pirith'. It consists of 24 stanzas and
begins with:
Purenta Parami Sabbe – Sabbe Pacchekanayaka,
Sivali Gunathejena – Parittam Tam Bhanamahe, Najalithii Thi Jalitam –
A – Ee, Li, Aam, E Swaha
Buddhasami Buddhasathyam and winds up with:
Tesam Sacchena silena – Kanthimettabalenaca
Tepi Mam Anurakkantu – Sabbaharogo Vinasanem
Sabba – Dukka Vinasanem
Sabbabbhayo Vinasanem
Many Buddhists believe that by listening and chanting ‘Sivali
Pirith’, they will be great receivers. Businessmen or the Business
sector will accrue large profits by reciting ‘Sivali Pirith'.
They will be bountiful with food, other amenities and will be
protected from all evil threats, fears emanative from all quarters. For
protection, some Buddhists wear a Talisman inside where ‘Sivali Dehena’
(protection verses of Sivali Piritha) is inscribed.
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