Arahat Bhikkuni Bhuddha Kundalakesi

By Premasara EPASINGHE

One hundred thousand aeons ago a maid lived in the city of Hansawathie in India. She was born during the dispensation of Buddha Padumuttara. She was a pious devotee of the Buddha. She witnessed, Buddha Padumuttara elevating one of the Bhikkhunis in the Sasana to the rank of the foremost of the enlightened Bhikkhuni. She too desired to attain the same honour and rank under a future Buddha.

In her Samsaric journey, during Kassapa Buddha era, she was born as the fourth daughter of King Kiki of the Kasi Kingdom. She was named as Bhikkudasi. Together with her six siters, she performed many meritorious deeds. They built a monastery for the Buddha Kassapa and His Bhikkhus.

During the period of Siddartha Gauthama Buddha, she was born again to a noble family. She was named Bhadda. She was level headed and intelligent. She was also pretty like a divine damsel. The Bhadda was a victim of love at first-sight. She saw a handsome young man, a notorious robber being taken to be executed. She pleaded with her parents that she would commit suicide, if she did not get the chance of marrying the handsome youth. Anyhow, the parents in order to save their daughter, bribed the executioner and freed him. Later he married Bhaddha.

Plan to kill

The robber who lived with her for a few days and planned to kill Bhaddha to obtain her wealth. He told her beautiful wife, that there was a vow he should fulfil and took her to the summit of a rock mountain to throw her down the precipice. The intelligent Bhaddha, asked his permission to embrace him once. While embracing the robber husband, she pushed him from behind down the precipice causing his death.

A deity on a tree-top applauded her and uttered the following verse:

Na so sabba Thanesu
Puriso Hoti Pandito
Ithtipi Pandita Honti
Thatha Thatha Vicakkhana

A man is not wise in every place. Women act wisely at times. Bhadda realised her folly. She could not face her parents as well as society. To get rid of the taint of murder, she climbed down the precipice and walked along a small footpath. Then she came across a Jaina monastery. She decided to be a Bhikkhuni in the order of Nigantanathaputra.

Jainism

According to Jainism men and women, undergo practices to curb all desires. Jain Bhikkhunis pulled out their hair, with a rough palmyrah comb. It was painful. She patiently suffered her pain. As her hair was pulled out, her scalp became a stream of blood. She patiently suffered. She observed her precepts. She gained knowledge on Jainism and became a fine preacher. Although the Bhikkhunis pulled out her hair, curly hair sprang up on her head. Therefore, Jain Bhikkhunis named her Kundala Kesi Bhikkhuni with curly hair. At that time the Bhikkhuni order had not started. She used to carry Jambu (Rose Apple) sprigs and she was renowned as Jambu Ajivaka.

On her visit one day to Savatthi, predominently a Buddhist area, she met Ven.Sariputta. She had a debate with him. Sariputta answered all the questions.

Then Sariputta posed a question? What is one? She had no idea and remained silent. After listening, she became a follower of the Buddha.

After meeting the Enlightened One, she entered the order of the Bhikkhunis. The Buddha delivered a discourse to suit her thoughts. The Buddha's final advice was:

Sahassampi ce Gatha, Anatta Pada Sanhita
Ekam Gatha Padam Seyyo, yan Sutva Upasammati

The Buddha said “One may utter a hundred words, with no real sense at all. One simple verse of good advice, hearing which one gains, supreme happiness of mind is certainly great.”

There is a similar verse in the Dhammapada (Sahassavagga) (verse 100) relating to Jambadathika – Executioner of thieves who attained Anuloma – Nana – adaption-to-truth knowledge.

After listening to the word of the Englightened One, Kundala Kesi gained enlightenment with four greater knowledges. She was elevated and raised to the rank of the foremost of Bhikkhunis to achieve wisdom within a short period. Kundalakesi was one of the 13 great Bhikkhunis.

In the Therigatha Kundalakesi uttered the following verse:

“As a Jaina hectic, Bhikkhuni
My Hair was pulled,
wore, worn out robes,
suffered much misery,
Having spent the daytime in my cell in Vultures’ Peak,
I entered the monastery of Saratthi,
Beheld the Buddha,
with great adoration I knelt before the Buddha,
He called me:
“Come daughter Bhadda”
I became a Bhikkhuni
Now, once again I begged for alms in the states of
Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Kasi, Kosala as an
Enlightened Bhikkhuni.

Although, her name was Bhadda, she was popularly known as Kundalakesi. The foremost Bhikkhuni to attain greater knowledge within a short time.