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Mahapajapati Gotami – the first Buddhist nun

Mahapajapati Gotami was one of the most important disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni as she was the first ever female to be ordained by Buddha Shakyamuni and the founding member of the nuns’ monastic order (bhikkhuni Sangha). She was also the aunt and stepmother of Buddha Shakyamuni. Mahapajapati and Queen Maya (who was the birth mother of Buddha Shakyamuni) were sisters of a Sakyan royal family in Devadaha, in the Himalayan region. When Mahapajapati Gotami was born, it was prophesied that she would become a leader of many people when she grew up. Three of Mahapajapati Gotami’s previous lives were very significant in creating the cause which led her to become the founding member of the nuns’ monastic order. She was born in Hamsavati during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. She witnessed Buddha Padumuttara appointing a nun to a principal position and made the aspiration to achieve the same. In one of Mahapajapati Gotami’s previous lives, she was born a slave near Deer Park in Vaishali (Sarnath, Varanasi). One day, five pratyekabuddhas came to ask the laypersons to help them prepare for the Rain Retreat, including building the retreat huts. All the rich people refused to help. Even though poor, Mahapajapati […]



This post first appeared on Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, please read the originial post: here

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Mahapajapati Gotami – the first Buddhist nun

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