Visakha, a role model for women

by Premasara Epasinghe

The Dhammapada is an immortal classic of Asia. It consists of the Buddha's utterances. There are 26 Vaggas or chapters and 423 stanzas or verses. Each verse is woven around a story carrying a moral lesson. It is full of similes.

Danda Vagga - punishment of the Dhammapada is about moral precepts for women.

The Buddha while residing at Pubbarama monastery, recited the following verse to 500 women who came to see him.

Yatha Dandena Gopalo
Gavo Paceti Gocaram
Evam Jara La Maccu Ca
Ayum Pacenti Paninam - (10:7)

Just as a Lerdsman, with his staff, drives his cattle to pasture, so do old age and death, drive men towards their end.

When the 500 women belonging to different age groups arrived at Pubbarama, Visakha questioned why they had come to observe the fasting day. They had different answers.

Meritorious act

The old women said they wanted to observe the or perform the meritorious act to sain riches and to be born in celestial abodes.

The middle-aged women said they came to the temple because they did not want to stay in their houses, with other mistresses of their husbands.

The young women wanted their first born child to be a son. The maidens came to the temple, to worship to get married to decent men.

Visakha took all of them to the Buddha. She told the Buddha the answers they had given to her question.

The Buddha said, "Visakha, ageing and death are part of life. They do not realise this truth. They wish to linger on in this awful Samsara. They do not wish for liberation or to attain the Bliss of Nibbana.

Sermon

Visakha was the daughter of Dhananjaya and Sumana Devi. She was born at Bhaddhiya in Anga Kingdom. Her grandfather Mendaka, took her to meet the Buddha, when He visited the city. After listening to the Buddha's sermon, she attained the first stage of Sainthood "Sotapatti". She was pretty like a divine damsel.

After marriage Visakha bore many children. Her husband was Punnavaddhana, the son of a wealthy man called Misara. Their marriage ceremony was conducted on a grand scale. She was given rich ornaments. She was the chief female devotee.

Her father Dhananjaya gave her the following admonition: Do not carry outside the indoor fire. Do not take inside the outdoor fire. Give only to those that give. Do not give to those who do not give. Sit happily. Eat happily. Sleep happily. Tend the fire. Honour the household divinities.

She had ten sons and ten daughters and died at the ripe old age of 120 years.