Maha Prajapati Gotami, the first Bhikkuni of the Buddha Sasana
by Premasara EPASINGHE
More than a thousand aeons-(kalpas) ago, during the time of
Padumuttara, Buddha; she was born as a daughter of a minister. She
visited Buddha Padumuttara, accompanying her father. During one of her
visits, she witnessed Buddha Padumuttara appointing his foster-mother as
the Chief Bhikkuni of the Order. She approached the Buddha Padumuttara
and made a firm resolve to be a Chief Bhikkuni in the future.
This was the beginning of a long journey in Samsara for the Foremost
Bhikkuni in Buddhism, the Great Enlightened Bhikkhuni Maha Prajapati
Gotami.
In her Samsaric Journey, for many aeons, she collected more merit.
During Buddha Kashyapas era, she became the wife of the Chief Vassal - a
man who fights for the remain loyal to a king or lord. In this birth,
she fulfilled a requirement of "Five Silent Buddhas," providing them
with food and constructing temples for them to reside in. The
meritorious act enabled the Paccheka Buddhas or Silent Buddhas to spend
the rainy season in the temples constructed by her.
The story of Maha Prajapati Gotami is like a beautiful fairytale. In
her next life, she was born as a charming and pretty princess in the
city of Devadaha during the time of our Blessed One, Gautama Buddha. Her
beloved father was Suppabuddha of the Koliya clan. Her elder sister was
Princess Mahamaya. The learned Brahmin astrologers named her as
Prajapati Gotami.
The King of Kapilavastu Suddhodana married Princess Mahamaya who,
after 12 years, gave birth to Prince Siddhartha - the Buddha Aspirant.
Princess Prajapati gave birth to Prince Nanda. As Queen Mahamaya died
seven days after baby Siddhartha's birth, Prajapati Gotami became his
foster-mother or stepmother. Her own son, Nanda and Prince Siddhartha
grew up together in the palace. They were playmates.
Sad occasion
Prince Siddhartha married a beautiful Princess like a divine damsel,
Yasodhara who later gave birth to Prince Rahula. Buddhist texts record
that on the eventful day that Rahula was born, Prince Siddhartha left
the palace and began his ascetic life in search of the Bliss of Nirvana.
It was a sad occasion for all at the palace. The great lady Gotami
consoled her daughter-in-law, Yasodhara and looked after the little one,
Rahula.
The days rolled by. Prince Siddhartha, who was born on 623 BC,
attained Buddhahood on 588 BC on Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.
The Awakened One, later arrived at Kapilavastupura to see His kith
and kin. Gotami, gladly arranged alms for the Gautama Buddha, her
stepson, and the retinue of monks. After listening to a sermon delivered
by the Awakened and Enlightened Gautama Buddha, queen Gotami attained
the first step, the Bliss of Sotapanna or a Stream Entrant on her way to
attain the Bliss of Nibbana.
After five years, war broke out between the clans Koliya and Sakya.
The Blessed One, who always stood for peace, preached the evils of war
and the virtues of amity and settled the dispute. Through Gautama
Buddha's compassion, kindness and peace were ushered. After listening to
a sermon delivered by the Buddha, the 500 young men who were in the
battlefield entered the Order and became Bhikkhus.
In the meantime, the 500 wives kindly requested Queen Gotami, and
sought the Buddha's permission to enter the Order to become Bhikkunis.
The Buddha did not adhere to their request. After the demise of King
Suddhodana, Queen Prajapati Gotami and the 500 wives left the palace,
clad in yellow robes with shaven heads and travelled a long distance
from Kapilavastu to Vesali. As they were not used to walking such a long
distance without slippers, their feet were bleeding and sore. While they
were near the gate, the Buddha's attendant Ananda Thera met this
delegation of women, led by Prajapati Gotami. She saluted Ananda Thera
with devotion.
Ven Ananda Thera met the Buddha. The request for them to enter the
Order was turned down.
It was a big disappointment. However, they were determined. After
several appeals by Prajapati Gotami through Ananda Thera, the Blessed
One finally granted permission provided the womenfolk are agreeable to
accept the Eightfold Noble Precepts called Astagaru Dhamma. 'Prajapati
Gotami and the 500 women gladly accepted the Astagaru Dhamma and thus
the Bhikkuni Sasana - Order of the Nuns was established.
Astagaru Dhamma
What were these Astagarudhamma?
(1) A Bhikkuni (Nun), who has completed even hundred years of Higher
Ordination should worship a Bhikkhu who received the Higher Ordination
even on the very same day.
(2) A Bhikkuni should not live in a lonely place where there are no
Bhikkhus for her to receive advice from.
(3) Once every 14 days, a Bhikkuni should receive doctrinal advice
from the Bhikkhus.
(4) A Bhikkuni after her 'Rainy Retreat (Vas season), should receive
the appropriate completing precepts and absolve herself before other
nuns and monks of the Order.
(5) A Bhikkhuni who committed a sin or fault should declare Her
Error, before the Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis. For 14 days or a forthnight,
she should follow their advice.
(6) A novice nun, before Higher Ordination, should observe the six
precepts, for two years. She should receive Higher Ordination twofold
(Sagha), from nuns or monks with Higher Ordination.
(7) A bhikkhuni should never use rough words or obscene language or
insult bhikkhus.
(8) A bhikkhuni should always respect the advice given by a bhikkhu.
After the official acceptance of the Astagaru Dhamma - the Eight
Noble Rules, the Bhikkuni Sasane was established.
Prajapati Gotami, after meditating, attained Noble-Enlightenment and
also the Three Higher Knowledge and six great Psychic Powers. As the
Buddha directed Ven. Nandaka Thera to address the 500 Bhikkhunis, they
listened to the Nandkovada Sermon. They too attained the Bliss of
Nibbana, the total extinction of desire and suffering.
The Licchevi Kings constructed nunneries. Princess Yasodhara and
Nanda arrived with more women and they too entered the Order of the
Bhikkhunis.
One day, when Prajapati Gotami visited the Assembly Hall of the
Blessed One, the Buddha addressed them and elevated her to the 'Foremost
Rank or Position of the Order of Bhikkunis'.
In his address, the Buddha stressed that it was her earnest wish for
millions of aeons Kalpa to gain this prestigious position.
According to Buddhist history and tradition, Prajapti Gotami lived a
complete life. During the period as the Chief Bhikkhuni, she propagated
the Buddha Dhamma and when she reached the 'Prime Age' of 120 years, she
passed away.
Courtesy call
Before her death, she paid a 'courtesy call' to bid goodbye to her
foster son - Siddhartha Gautama. It was a truly sentimental moment. The
great Bhikkhuni, who established the Bhikkuni Sasana, Order of the
Bhikkunis, worshipped the Buddha for the last time and sprang to the sky
with her psychic powers and vanished. She attained the fourth Meditative
Absorption, Chatutthadhyana and passed away to Nibbana.
As Prajapati Gotami departed, the Buddha paid his highest respect by
attending the funeral of this great Bhikkhuni. The Blessed One walked
behind the funeral procession, along with Sariputta and Moggallana, the
two chief disciples of the Bhikkhu Sasana or Sangha Sasana. The chief
disciple monk too participated in this funeral. It was said to be the
biggest funeral ever, during the period of the Buddha.
The Licchavi rulers, princes and ministers constructed the funeral
pyre and a State funeral was accorded to the Great Enlightened Nun Maha
Prajapati Gotami.
The Licchavi kings lit the funeral pyre. After the body was
completely burnt, her bones remained like tiny beautiful pearls. The
Dharmabandagarika, the attendant of Gautama Buddha, Ven Ananda collected
the bone relics into Gotami's Bowl, and presented them to the Blessed
One.
It was a very touching and sad moment to many. The Great
Communicator, Gautama Buddha addressed the monks and expressed His
sentiments thus:
"The strong branch of a massive tree broke away. The main tree
remains, leaving the Order of the Bhikkhunia.
She was wise, clever,full of determination with a strong will,
Without any doubt, Maha Prajapati Gotami was certainly foremost of all
Bhikkhunis. Dear bhikkhus, realise the impermanence of life. Strive hard
to achieve your ultimate goal in enlightenment." |