The Bhikkhuni of Devdaha city

by Premasara Epasinghe

In Buddhist literature, there were nine Bhikkhunis who attained Arahathhood after listening to senior Bhikkhunis who had already achieved Arahathhood. They were Sundarie, Chitta, Sukka, Uttama, Uttara, Chanda, Vijaya, Isidasi and the Bhikkhuni of Devadaha.

Bhikkhuni of Devdaha was a domestic aid employed at the palace of Prajapti Gotami, step-mother of Prince Siddhartha. After the demise of Prince Siddhartha Gauthama's mother Mahamaya King Suddhodana married Prajapathi Gothami and left Devadha for Kapilavastu. The maid, too followed her mistress. She supervised the other maids in the palace and looked after Prince Siddhartha and Prajapati Gotami's son Nanda.

The maid who came from Devadaha to Kapilavastu was heart broken, when Princes Siddhartha left the palace and lived an ascetic life. Added to her woes, her beloved mistress Prajapati Gotami also left the palace to become a Bhikkhuni. The maid felt lonely. She was also keen to enter the Bhikkhuni's order.

The identity of the Bhikkhuni of Devadaha is not mentioned in Buddhist literature, but she was known as the Bhikkhuni of Devadaha.

The old maid, met Dhammadinna and introduced herself to her. Dhammadhinna ordained her as the "Bhikkhunis of Devadana City". She was taught the Dhamma and meditation. But the old Bhikkhuni was unsuccessful in her meditation.

She was unable to focus her mind on meditation. She knew her problem and met Dhammadhinna who advised her not to think about her past, but to master her own mind. "Try to control you mind, meditate and strive hard and achieve arahathood."

Dhammadhinna advised her to meditate first on Pathavi Kasina meditation on earth element and solidity and proceed to Uggaha Nimitta learning Sign, follow up with Pathibhaga Nimmitta - counter sign and Upachara Samadhi - Access concentration. The old bhikkhuni from the city of Devadaha city reached Apanna Samadhi and gained "one pointedness mind known as Citta Ekaggata". Then her exercise was diverted to meditation known as fire calm meditation on fire element known as Tejo Kasina and finally water element cohesion titled Apo Kasina.

Then her past recollections disappeared. Ultimately the old Bhikkhuni from the city of Devadaha achieved arahathood by concentrating on meditation.

Theri Gatha "Verses of Joy" says,

"I gained the knowledge of the divine eye with the knowledge of magical power. I obtained higher knowledge. Now I am fully liberated."