Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī (Pali; Sanskrit: महाप्रजापती गौतमी, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī) or Pajapati was the foster-mother, step-mother and maternal aunt (mother's sister) of the Buddha. In Buddhist tradition, she was the first woman to seek ordination for women, which she did from Gautama Buddha directly, and she became the first bhikkhuni (Buddhist nun).[1][2]
Tradition says Maya and Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī were Koliyan princess and sisters of Suppabuddha. Mahāpajāpatī was both the Buddha's maternal aunt and adoptive mother,[2] raising him after her sister Maya, the Buddha's birth mother, died. She raised Siddhartha as if he were her own child.[3] Mahāpajāpatī died at the age of 120.[4]
"The story of the parinirvāṇa of Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and her five hundred bhikṣuṇī companions was popular and widely transmitted and existed in multiple versions."[5] It is recorded in the various surviving Vinaya traditions, including the Pali Canon and Sarvastivada and Mulasarvastivada versions.[5]
An eminent Therī, Mahāpajāpatī was born at Devdaha as the younger sister of Māyā.[6] Mahāpajāpatī was so called because, at her birth, augurs prophesied[7] that she would have a large following.[7] Both sisters married King Suddhodhana,[3] leader of the Śākya. When Māyā died seven days after the birth of the Bodhisatta (the "Buddha-to-be"), Pajāpati looked after the Bodhisatta and nursed him.[3] She raised the Buddha and had her own children, Siddhartha's half-sister Sundari Nanda and half-brother Nanda. Prince Siddhartha, Prince Nanda, Princess Sundari Nanda, the grandson Rāhula and her daughter-in-law Yaśodharā all were equally loved and treated by Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī.
Ordination of the first woman
Mahapajapati, first Buddhist nun and Buddha's stepmother ordains
When King Suddhodhana died, Mahapajapati Gotami decided to attain ordination.[3] Mahapajapati Gotami went to the Buddha and asked to be ordained into the Sangha.[2] The Buddha refused[2] and went on to Vesāli. Undaunted, Gotami cut off her hair[2] and donned yellow robes[2] and with many Sakyan ladies followed the Buddha to Vesāli on foot.[2][8] Upon arrival, she repeated her request to be ordained. Ananda, one of the principal disciples and an attendant of the Buddha, met her and offered to intercede with the Buddha on her behalf.[2]
Respectfully he questioned the Buddha, "Lord, are women capable of realising the various stages of sainthood as nuns?"
"They are, Ananda," said the Buddha.
"If that is so, Lord, then it would be good if women could be ordained as nuns," said Ananda, encouraged by the Buddha's reply.
"If, Ananda, Maha Pajapati Gotami would accept the Eight Conditions it would be regarded that she has been ordained already as a nun."[2]
Gotami agreed to accept the Eight Garudhammas and was accorded the status of the first bhikkhuni.[2] Subsequent women had to undergo full ordination to become nuns.
Mahāyāna
Lotus Sutra
In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha bestows a prophecy upon Mahāprajāpatī that in the distant future, she will become a buddha named "Sarvasattvapriyadarśana."[9]
References
^. Congress-on-buddhist-women.org. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2010-11-19.
^ abcdefghijThe Life of the Buddha: (Part Two) The Order of Nuns
^ abcd. Archived from the original on 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
^Dhammadharini: Going Forth & Going Out ~ the Parinibbana of Mahapajapati Gotami - Dhammadharini Archived 2013-02-21 at archive.today
^ abDhammadinā, The Parinirvāṇa of Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and Her Followers in the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya
^Roberts, Peter Alan (2018) The White Lotus of the Good Dharma, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
Bibliography
Analayo (2011). Mahapajapati's going forth in the Madhyama agama, Journal of Buddhist Ethics 18, 268-317.
Anālayo, Bhikkhu (2016).The Going Forth of Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī in T 60, Journal of Buddhist Ethics 23, 1-31.
Scott, Rachel M (2010). Buddhism, miraculous powers, and gender - rethinking the stories of Theravada nuns, Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 33 (1-2), 489-511.
Buswell, Robert E., ed. (2004). Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Macmillan Reference USA. pp. 489–490. ISBN0-02-865718-7.
Walters, Jonathan S. (1994). “A Voice from the Silence: The Buddha's Mother's Story.” History of Religions 33, 350–379.
Garling, Wendy (2016). Stars at Dawn: Forgotten Stories of Women in the Buddha's Life. Shambhala Publications. ISBN978-1-61180-265-8.
Garling, Wendy; H.H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama (foreword) (2021). The Woman Who Raised the Buddha: The Extraordinary Life of Mahaprajapati. Shambhala Publications. ISBN978-1611806694.
Roberts, Peter Alan (2018) The White Lotus of the Good Dharma, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
External links
Maha Pajapati (Gotami) Theri: A Mother's Blessing
January 13, 2023
mahapajapati, gotami, mahāpajāpatī, gotamī, pali, sanskrit, मह, रज, पत, तम, mahāprajāpatī, gautamī, pajapati, foster, mother, step, mother, maternal, aunt, mother, sister, buddha, buddhist, tradition, first, woman, seek, ordination, women, which, from, gautama. Mahapajapati Gotami Pali Sanskrit मह प रज पत ग तम Mahaprajapati Gautami or Pajapati was the foster mother step mother and maternal aunt mother s sister of the Buddha In Buddhist tradition she was the first woman to seek ordination for women which she did from Gautama Buddha directly and she became the first bhikkhuni Buddhist nun 1 2 Prajapati GautamiPrince Siddhartha with Mahaprajapati GautamiPersonalBornPrajapatiDevdahaReligionBuddhismSpouseKing SuddhodanaChildrenSundari Nanda daughter Nanda son ParentsAnjana father Yashodhara mother OccupationBhikkhuniRelativesSuppabuddha brother Yashodhara daughter in law Maya Devi sister Senior postingTeacherGautama Buddha Contents 1 Biography 2 Ordination of the first woman 3 Mahayana 3 1 Lotus Sutra 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksBiography EditTradition says Maya and Mahapajapati Gotami were Koliyan princess and sisters of Suppabuddha Mahapajapati was both the Buddha s maternal aunt and adoptive mother 2 raising him after her sister Maya the Buddha s birth mother died She raised Siddhartha as if he were her own child 3 Mahapajapati died at the age of 120 4 The story of the parinirvaṇa of Mahaprajapati Gautami and her five hundred bhikṣuṇi companions was popular and widely transmitted and existed in multiple versions 5 It is recorded in the various surviving Vinaya traditions including the Pali Canon and Sarvastivada and Mulasarvastivada versions 5 An eminent Theri Mahapajapati was born at Devdaha as the younger sister of Maya 6 Mahapajapati was so called because at her birth augurs prophesied 7 that she would have a large following 7 Both sisters married King Suddhodhana 3 leader of the Sakya When Maya died seven days after the birth of the Bodhisatta the Buddha to be Pajapati looked after the Bodhisatta and nursed him 3 She raised the Buddha and had her own children Siddhartha s half sister Sundari Nanda and half brother Nanda Prince Siddhartha Prince Nanda Princess Sundari Nanda the grandson Rahula and her daughter in law Yasodhara all were equally loved and treated by Mahapajapati Gotami Ordination of the first woman Edit Mahapajapati first Buddhist nun and Buddha s stepmother ordains When King Suddhodhana died Mahapajapati Gotami decided to attain ordination 3 Mahapajapati Gotami went to the Buddha and asked to be ordained into the Sangha 2 The Buddha refused 2 and went on to Vesali Undaunted Gotami cut off her hair 2 and donned yellow robes 2 and with many Sakyan ladies followed the Buddha to Vesali on foot 2 8 Upon arrival she repeated her request to be ordained Ananda one of the principal disciples and an attendant of the Buddha met her and offered to intercede with the Buddha on her behalf 2 Respectfully he questioned the Buddha Lord are women capable of realising the various stages of sainthood as nuns They are Ananda said the Buddha If that is so Lord then it would be good if women could be ordained as nuns said Ananda encouraged by the Buddha s reply If Ananda Maha Pajapati Gotami would accept the Eight Conditions it would be regarded that she has been ordained already as a nun 2 Gotami agreed to accept the Eight Garudhammas and was accorded the status of the first bhikkhuni 2 Subsequent women had to undergo full ordination to become nuns Mahayana EditLotus Sutra Edit In the Lotus Sutra the Buddha bestows a prophecy upon Mahaprajapati that in the distant future she will become a buddha named Sarvasattvapriyadarsana 9 References Edit A New Possibility Congress on buddhist women org Archived from the original on 2007 09 28 Retrieved 2010 11 19 a b c d e f g h i j The Life of the Buddha Part Two The Order of Nuns a b c d Maha Pajapati Gotami Archived from the original on 2015 01 28 Retrieved 2010 11 07 Dhammadharini Going Forth amp Going Out the Parinibbana of Mahapajapati Gotami Dhammadharini Archived 2013 02 21 at archive today a b Dhammadina The Parinirvaṇa of Mahaprajapati Gautami and Her Followers in the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya Relatives and Disciples of the Buddha archived 2011 a b Women of the Buddhist scriptures Mahapajapati Gotami Bhikkhunis archived 2011 Roberts Peter Alan 2018 The White Lotus of the Good Dharma 84000 Translating the Words of the Buddha Bibliography EditAnalayo 2011 Mahapajapati s going forth in the Madhyama agama Journal of Buddhist Ethics 18 268 317 Analayo Bhikkhu 2016 The Going Forth of Mahapajapati Gotami in T 60 Journal of Buddhist Ethics 23 1 31 Scott Rachel M 2010 Buddhism miraculous powers and gender rethinking the stories of Theravada nuns Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 33 1 2 489 511 Buswell Robert E ed 2004 Encyclopedia of Buddhism Macmillan Reference USA pp 489 490 ISBN 0 02 865718 7 Walters Jonathan S 1994 A Voice from the Silence The Buddha s Mother s Story History of Religions 33 350 379 Garling Wendy 2016 Stars at Dawn Forgotten Stories of Women in the Buddha s Life Shambhala Publications ISBN 978 1 61180 265 8 Garling Wendy H H the Fourteenth Dalai Lama foreword 2021 The Woman Who Raised the Buddha The Extraordinary Life of Mahaprajapati Shambhala Publications ISBN 978 1611806694 Roberts Peter Alan 2018 The White Lotus of the Good Dharma 84000 Translating the Words of the Buddha External links EditMaha Pajapati Gotami Theri A Mother s Blessing Mahapajapati Gotami Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mahapajapati Gotami amp oldid 1122914535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
