Arahat Theri Sanghamitta:

Role model for all womenfolk in Sri Lanka

by Premasara EPASINGHE

Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day, the last Poya, according to the Sinhala Buddhist calendar falls tomorrow.

Sanghamitta was the first to sow first seeds of the establishment of Bhikkuni Sasanaya or order of the nuns and thus began a programme of education for women to live an ideal life following the Buddha precepts. Without any hesitation, you could name Unduvap Poya Day, as the day of women's Liberation.

If you trace the history of Buddhism, it should be emphasised, that no visit by an foreign delegates or envoys, diplomats has created such an impact on the lives of Sri Lankans as the visit of the brother and sister (Arahat Mahinda and Arahat Theri Sangamitta, son and daughter of Emperor Asoka) that has created a social, spiritual and cultural revolution in any part of the globe.

They arrived from India to this resplendent, beautiful island, as missionaries and spread the Buddha Dhamma in Sri Lanka. It helped Sri Lankans to mould their character in a dignified manner to become compassionate.

Sanghamitta entered the order as a nun at the age of 18 years, giving up a royal life. During this period, King Devanampiyatissa's (42nd king of Sri Lanka) consort, Queen Anula, desirous of entering the order, requested Arahat Mahinda, to grant permission to enter the order. The request was turned down. However, Arahat Mahinda, advised the King, Devanampiyatissa, to contact his father, Emperor Asoka, and request him to send his sister Sangamitta Theri to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkuni Sasanaya.

In due course, Devanampiyatissa send his Foreign Minister Aritta, to India to meet Emperor Asoka and after holding discussions, the Great Emperor Asoka agreed to send his own daughter Sangamitta to Sri Lanka to establish the Bhikkuni Sasanaya. Arahat Theri Sangamitta, on compassion towards the womenfolk of Sri Lanka, decided to come to Sri Lanka and establish the Order of the Nuns or Bhikuni Sasanaya. This event took place on Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day.

Beginning

It should be noted that the Blessed One, Gautama Buddha was the greatest religious teacher, who emancipated and freed the womenfolk in India. It all began with Prajapati Gotami, establishing the Order of the Nuns during the Buddha era.

Tracing the history of Bhikkuni Sasanaya is quite interesting.

The Enlightened One, Gautama Buddha, one day before a Great Assembly of Nuns, elevated the chief Nun Prajapati Gotami to the rank of the Foremost Nun of the Order. Later, two other Nuns, Khema and Uppalavanna were declared as the two chief Disciple Nuns. Further, ten other senior Nuns namely Patachara (Nun with the Greatest Psychic Power and Disciplined One), Dhammadhinna (Best preacher), Rupananda (Foremost Nun with meditative power) Sona (Great effort) Sakula possessed (possessed Divine Eye) Bhaddha Kundalakesi (Psychic powers), Kapilani (Blessed to remember the past births), Yasodhara (who possessed Analytical/ Psychic powers), Kisagotami (observer of difficult precepts) Sigalakamata (Possessor of Great Faith) with more than thousands of Nuns spread the message of the Dhammaraja, the Blessed One throughout the length and breadth of India.Another important and a very significant event that mark the Unduvap Poya Day was the arrival and the planting of the Sacred Bodhi Sapling in the Royal Garden of Maha Megha, according to the instruction of Arahat Mahinda. The planting of the Bo-Tree symbolised that Buddhism was deeply rooted in Sri Lanka. Even today, Jayasiri Maha Bodhi Tree is one of the most valued treasurers of that the Buddhists possess in Sri Lanka. Millions have paid and pay homage to this sacred Bo-Tree at Anuradhapura.

This Jayasri Maha Bodhi sapling that brought to Sri Lanka by Arahat Sangamitta Theri.

The Buddhists believe, the Jayasiri Maha Bodhi as the living Buddha. This event too took place on Unduvap Poya Day.