Janapadakalyani becomes an Arahat Therani

By Premasara Epasinghe

Rupananda, was a Bhikkhuni devoted to meditation. The practice of insight meditation, guides one observe the nature of mind. One also gains a first hand knowledge of the way things in its proper perspective without relying on opinions or theories – a direct experience, which has its own vitality. Further, insight meditation is a key factor of the doctrine that the Buddha preached for the well-being of mankind.

Princess Janapadakalyani was the daughter-in-law of Maha Prajapathi Gotami and the step-mother of prince Siddhartha. It was she who established the order of the Bhikkhunis. Princess Janapadakalyani was so beautiful, like a divine damsel that she was known as Rupananda.

Janapadakalyani was married to Nanda, half brother of Prince Siddhartha.

She thought, Prince Siddhartha who could have become a Universal Monarch, but renounced the world and become a Bhikkhu. Prince Rahula and Janapadakalyani's husband Nanda have also entered the Buddhist order. Her beloved mother Gotami too had become a Bhikkhuni. The entire family entered the Buddhist Order. Therefore, she too decided to join them and went to the monastery to become a Bhikkhuni.

It is interesting to study the life of Janapadakalyani. One hundred thousands “kalpas” (aeons) ago, she was born as a maid in the city of Hansawathie, during the time of Padumuttara Buddha. She witnessed an event, Bhikkhuni's appointment to the rank of the “foremost among meditating Bhikkhuni.” The maid was very pious and made it a habit to give alms to the Bhikkhus. She had the earnest desire to become the foremost Bhikkhuni in the future. Due to her meritorious deeds, she was born in the heavenly abodes on many occasions in her samsaric journey. During Gautama Buddha's time, she was born the only daughter of a blue-blooded family in Kapilavastu.

Janapadakalyani was very arrogant about her beauty. As the Buddha often taught about the impermanence, insubstantiality of Khandas – component things, she kept away from the Buddha, when she visited Jetavanarama monastery. One day, she decided to accompany other Bhikkhunis to Jetawana.

The Buddha who knew that she was proud of her beauty with His supernatural powers created a lovely maiden to appear fanning Him. Janapadakalyani could not believe with her own eyes. She was a real beauty with her dress adding more to it. While she was admiring the beauty of the maiden tanning the Buddha she noticed her growing older and older.

The Buddha caused the maiden to be cadaverous figure. Her charm and beauty decayed. She became decrepit and weak by age losing control over her bodily function. Finally, she fell and died. Her body got bloated. Pus and maggots came out of the nine openings of the body. Crows and vultures were battling out to snatch parts of her dead body.

By concentrating and looking at the decaying and decomposing body Janapadakalyani, perceived the true nature of life or Truth of Life.

Thus the Buddha preached the truth of Impermanence:
Atthinam Nagaram Katam – Mamsalohitalepanam
Yattha Jara ca maccu ca – mano makkho ca obito.
(Dhammapada – Jara Vagga (Old Age) – Verse 150)

This body of bones is a city plastered with blood and flesh, wherein is deposited decay, death, pride and deceit).

One of the basic truths taught by the Buddha was Impermanence. The Buddha said: “Everything in the world arises, changes and perishes; nothing remains constant for even a single moment. When the Practitioner sees the signs of impermanence, e.g. Parched skin, grey hair, he should redouble his efforts at salvation, so as to escape – birth and death.

The Buddha said:

“Nun Nanda, the human body, admired and loved by many is subject to change and decay. Within it, were the gruesome parts.

Look at the corpse – lying dead and ugly and something. It is like a town made of bones. Nun Nanda, now that you have destroyed all your craving for beauty, sensuous pleasures now put an end to all suffering and craving.