The Great Arahant Therī
Mahāpajāpati Gotamī
In Her Previous Existence as The Head of Water-carriers
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King Suddhodāna sending His Ministers to invite the Buddha to the Royal City
During the time of Buddha Padumuttara, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī Therī was born into a wealthy family in the city of Haṃsāvatī, . On one occasion, she was listening to a discourse by the Buddha when she happened to see a bhikkhunī being named by the Buddha as the foremost among the bhikkhunīs who were enlightened earliest (The bhikkhu who is the senior-most in the Order). She aspired to the same distinction in a future existence. So, she made extraordinary offerings to the Buddha and expressed that wish before Him. The Buddha predicted that her aspiration would be fulfilled …..
Buddha’s Journey to Kapilavatthu
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Venerable Sāriputta’s Request for The Expounding of Buddhavaṃsa
The Buddha left Veḷuvana monastery in Rājagaha for Kapilavatthu accompanied by twenty thousand Arahats, which made up of ten thousand Arahats who came from the good families of Anga and Magadha and ten thousand Arahats who came from the good families of Kapilavatthu, traveling at the rate of one yojana per day and hoping to cover the distance of sixty yojanas to Kapilavatthu within two months. Such a mode of travel, which is not too fast, is termed ‘aturita’…..
King Suddhodāna became Anāgāmi and Mahāpajāpati Gotamī, Sotāpanna
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Ordination of Prince Nanda & Rahula
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Pajāpati Gotamī offered A Set of Robes to The Buddha
When the Buddha entered the royal city the next day, in the company of twenty thousand Arahats, for alms-round, not a single member of the royal family came forward to greet and welcome Him. There was no one to take His alms bowl and carry for Him. (because at that time no body was knowing about the Buddha’s custom of going in alms-round)
The moment the Buddha had set foot on the gate-way of Kapilavatthu, He began…….
Six Sakyan Princes, together with Upali The Barber, became Bhikkhus
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Queen Mahāpajāpati Gotamī renunciates the worldly life
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Passing Away
This time, Maha Prajapati Gotami decided to shave her head, wear yellow robes and walk to Vesali where the Buddha was resident during the fifth rains retreat. The five hundred ladies also shaved their head, wore yellow robes and joined her to walk from Kapilavatthu to Vesali in order to request the Buddha to ordain them as nuns…..