Indian Antiquary Vol 57

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 71

MARCH, 1928)
BUDDHIST WOMEN
53
Gotami. Thereafter she could not for sometime control her mind from external interests. Then the Master gave her suitable instructions, and she attained arhatship together with pațisambhida. (Th. Commy., pp. 157-159.)
Vijayd came of a certain clansmen's family of Rajagaha. She was a friend of Khem. When she heard that Khema, a king's consort, had renounced the world, she went to Khema, who taught her the Norm and ordained her. Very soon she won insight and after a short time attained arhatship with analytical knowledge. (Th. Commy, pp. 159-160.) Mâra came, to tempt her by saying, “ You are young and beautiful, I am also young and beautiful, let us enjoy ourselves with music.” She replied, "I find delight in rûpa, sadda, gandha, etc. and I don't like soft-touch. I hate very much my rotten body which is easily destructible. My ignorance is dispelled." Then Måra left her. (S.N., 1. pp. 130-131).
Cala, Upacald and Sisupacâld were born in Magadha at the village of Nalaka as the children of a Brahmani named Surupasâri. They were younger sisters of Säriputta. When they heard that their brother had left the world for the order, they too renounced the world and striving hard, attained arhatship. In vain Måra tried to stir up sensual desires in them. (Th. Commy., 162-163 ; cf. S.N., pt. I, pp. 132-134).
Uppalavanni came of a banker's family at Såvatthi. Her skin was of the colour of the heart (gabbha) of the blue lotus. Hence she was called Uppalavaņņa. Many princes and banker's sons wanted to marry her. But she renounced the world, went to the bhikkhunis and was ordained. Thereafter one day she lighted a lamp, and by continually contemplating on the flame of the lamp, she gradually obtained arhatship with adhiñña and pați sambhida. (Th. Commy., 182 ff.) She was assigned a chief place among those who had the gift of iddhi. (Manoratha pürani, p. 207 ff.; Arguttara N., I, 25).
The Samyutta Nikaya tells us that Theri Uppalavanna went to Andhavana to meditate. There she sat at the foot of the Sala tree. Mára came to her and said to her, "You are sitting at the foot of a fully blossomed Sala tree, are you not afraid of the wicked ?" She replied, "I do not care for the wicked. I do not care for you." Måra left her. (Pt. 1, pp. 131-132). After defeating Mara, Uppalavaņņå was molested by her maternal uncle's son Ananda, who was enamoured of her beauty and who wanted to marry her. Although Uppalavanna had become a bhikkhuni, Ananda could not give up the desire of marrying her. Once Ananda concealed himself in the room of the Theri under her bedstead in her absence. When the Theri returned home and lay herself down on the bedstead, Ananda suddenly came out and committed rape on her. The Therî informed the bhikkhunis of this fact, and through the bhikkhunis brought this to the notice of the Buddha, who prohibited the bhikkhunis from living in forests. (D.C., II, 48-51.) Uppalavanna Theri acquired the power of performing a miracle by coming in to the presence of the Buddha to worship him with the pomp and grandeur of an individual monarch, being surrounded by a retinue extending over 36,000 yojanis and this miracle was visible to an assembly extending over twelve yojanas. (D.C., III, p. 211.)
Sumangalamaia came of a poor family of Sâvatthi. She was married to a basket maker. She acquired great merit. One day while reflecting on all she had suffered, she was much affected and her insight quickening, she attained arhatship with analytical knowledge. (Th. Commy., 28-30.)
Punnd or Punnikd acquired great merit in her previous birth, but owing to her pride she could not root out klešas (sins). She was born of a domestic slave at Savatthi in the household of Anathapiņdika, the banker. She obtained sold palliphalaṁ after hearing the Sihan da Suttanta. Afterwards Anathapiņdika gave her freedom because she defeated a Brahman named Udakasuddhika. Puņnå renounced worldly life and entered the order. She practised insight and very soon attained arhatship with pațisambhidd. (Th. Commy., pp. 199 f.).
Sundari was born at Benares as the daughter of Sujata, a Brahman. On her brother's death, her father became overwhelmed with grief. With the advice of Therf Vasitthi her