Homage To The Great Arahant Theri
Over four eons ago, during the proclamation of certainty of Buddhahood, when acetic sumedha was given the proclamation of certainty by the Dipankara buddha, being a female acetic, Sumitra wished to be the loving wife of acetic sumedha in the journey to come in attainment of Buddhahood.
Being like a shadow that never leaves, in each life they met, princess yashodara sacrificed her entire life and supported the bodhisatta in fulfilling the ten perfections (paramitas).
sometimes, she was like a mother to the bodhisatta, supporting him by bringing food and all other necessities while he leads an acetic celibate life. Sometimes she is a savior of the bodhisatta. When bodhisatta is caught by violent animals, or thieves in the jungle she presents herself up front, and sacrifices her life to save that of the bodhisatta. In the channa kinnara jataka, she used the power pure virtue to seek help from god sakka when her loving husband was wounded by a poison arrow shot by the evil lustful king.
In their journey together as husband and wife, Yashodara has never ever thought of any other man other than her loving husband. Even when the bodhisatta dies before her, while she is still young and beautiful, she has never accepted any proposal from another man, but rather kept her faithfulness to her husband by being celibate for countless lives. In their journey together, she has never felt angry and become hostile towards her husband. Even when her husband gives away the loving children she has given birth to without even telling her, she never felt upset or hateful towards the bodhisatta. Instead, she always rejoiced and blessed her husband in his aspiration to Buddhahood.
'SHE' is the ICON, the REAL AMAZEMENT in the world of women
In the present society, it is even unthinkable for a wife to hold such noble qualities. That is the reason, she is known as a gem among all women, the greatest woman among all females. If there is a woman in this world that is worthy of worship, that is the arahant bhikkhuni Yashodhara for she held such admirable noble qualities which is rarely seen in a woman.
From the moment she wished to be the wife of the bodhisatta, up until the last life as princess yashodhara, she has never cheated on her husband by engaging in sexual misconduct.
Even after becoming ordained, she lived a very simple life without becoming attached to gain and honour. Being the wife of the supreme buddha in the lay life, she was so famous and popular. However, she avoided such fame and went to live in remote areas and quickly fulfilled her spiritual life. Although she was the foremost bhikkhuni among bhikkunis who have attained the 6-deep knowledge (abingna), she lived like a ten-precept nun who just ordained that day with such humbleness and humility. At the age of 78, after seeking permission from the buddha, to reach parinibbana, upon the request of the buddha to show psychic powers, Arahant bikkhuni Yashodhara displayed miraculous psychic powers, showing the world, that women too have the capability to become supreme if this mind is highly developed. Amongst the crying and lamentation of devas and humans the noble bhikkhuni Yashodhara reached parinibbana like a lamp that is extinguished.
May our heartfelt homage be to the venerable Bhikkuni Yashodhara, Rahula’s beloved mother!
While you are reading the verses of noble nuns, Venerable Arahant nuns might seem to appear in front of you. You may get the feeling they are speaking with you. you will witness before you the display of the ultimate purity of their hearts.
It is amazing to witness how respectfully they memorized and practiced those pure words of the Buddha. We will be able to clearly understand the nature of the true disciples of the Buddha through these verses of enlightened nuns.
These verses are like a wonderious mirror that aids us in understanding the pure lives of the noble disciples of the Buddha to whom we go for refuge by saying ‘Saṅghaṁ saranaṁ gacchāmi’
(THE THERIGATHA)
Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnananda Thero
Our Monastery
With the propagation of Dhamma by the Mahamevnawa Meditation center, women once again received the opportunity to become ordained as nuns in the Gautama Supreme Buddha’s dispensation.
Under the guidance of Most Venerable Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thro, the Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monastery was established for those women wishing to devote their lives to practicing the Dhamma. The first and main nuns’ monastery was built in Mutugala, Dambadeniya on September 10th of 2003 with five resident Anagarika nuns consisting of a small Buddha hall, small alms hall, and two lodgings.
Being started on a Binara full moon day when the Bhikkhuni Sangha was established in the world, the Mahamevnawa Anagarika Monastery has provided the warmth of the dispensation for female devotees to develop the Dhamma path.
As a sister branch of the main monastery, the Udupila Anagarika monastery was established providing the opportunity to many lay devotees in the Udupila area to collect rare merit into their lives.
The monastery provides the opportunity to many adults and children to learn the sublime Dhamma, offer dana and develop wholesome qualities. With the building of Yashodhara Maha Stupa, in 2013, the one and only stupa built in the world for Arahant Theri Yashodhara, many devotees were able to seek the blessings of the Great Arahant Bhikkhuni, the beloved mother of prince Rahula. The bringing forth of the mesmerizing statue of the passion free bhikkuni, in 2020 sprouted love and devotion in the hearts of many devotees who was blessed to take a glimpse of the beautiful Vihara made in her glory.
What you can find in the monastery when you visit ?
Dhamma Hall
Inside the Dhamma Hall, you can worship the magnificent buddha statue, and venerate arahant relics enshrined in the beautiful casquette next to the statue.
The Glorious Bodhi Tree
With branches wide spread, the beautiful bodhi tree provides the blessings of the buddha to all devotees who come to worship. Devotees can make offerings, worship, chant parittas and truly seek the protection and blessings of the triple gem under the cool shade of the bodhi tree.
The Yashodhara Vihara
Holding the breathtaking statue of the Arahant Theri Yashodhara, the most beautiful women on this earth, second in beauty only to the Buddha, you can make offerings and venerate the Arahant Theri by worshipping, and recollecting the rare qualities of the noble Bhikkuni.
The Yashodhara Maha stupa
The only Stupa in the world, built for Arahant Theri, Yashodhara, you can worship and make various offerings to the great stupa with a pleasant mind. Sitting on the newly renovated stupa floor, you can calm your mind and perform the declaration of truth (sathyakriya) in front of the stupa and seek the protection and blessings of Arahant bhikkhuni Yashodhara which will help you to overcome many obstacles in life.
Dhamma for YOU
“O my Glorious Buddha, I brought up your physical body but,
You brought up my spiritual body.
I fed you with breast milk but,
You fed me with the milk of the Dhamma,
To destroy suffering and Samsara.
It is a rare opportunity to see a Buddha.
I would like to view and pay homage
to your lotus like feet.
Please stretch forward your feet”
-The Great Arahant Theri Mahā Pajāpatī Gotamī-
If you are interested in learning the Dhamma in English, you can also visit the ‘Buddhist Nuns of Mahamevnawa’ located in Colombo 7, which conducts English Dhamma programs for adults and children.
