In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

She was born in Kapilavatthu as the daughter of the chief of the Sakiyan Khemaka and was named Nanda. Owing to her great beauty and charm she became known as Abhirupa Nanda.

On the day appointed for her to select her husband, the Sakiyan youth, on whom her choice was to have fallen, died, and her parents made her leave the world against her will.

The Apadana account (ii. 609) does not mention the suitors death, but states that many sought her hand and caused great trouble, to avoid which her parents made her join the Order.

Even after she had entered the Order she avoided going into the Buddhas presence, being infatuated with her own beauty and fearing the Masters rebuke. In order to induce her to come to him, the Buddha directed Maha Pajapati to see that all the nuns came for instruction. When Nandas turn came she sent another in her place. The Buddha refused to recognise the substitute, and Nanda was compelled to go herself. As she listened to the Buddha preaching, he, by his magic power, conjured up a beautiful woman and showed her becoming aged and fading, causing anguish to arise in Nandas heart. At the opportune moment, the Buddha drove home the truth of the impermanence of beauty. Meditating on this topic, she later became an arahant (ThigA.81f. ; SnA.i.241-2).

The two verses preached to her by the Buddha, which she made the subject of her meditations, are given in the Therigatha (vv.19, 20).

In the time of Vipassi Buddha, Nanda had been the daughter of a wealthy burgess in the Buddhas native town of Bandhumati. Having heard the Buddha preach she became his pious follower, and, at his death, made an offering of a golden umbrella decked with jewels to the shrine built over his ashes (Ap.ii.608).

The verses quoted in the Therigatha Commentary, as having been taken from the Apadana, really belong to Metta, and are found in the Apadana (ii. 515) ascribed to Ekapindadayika. The correct verses are found in the Apadana under the name of Abhirupa Nanda, and agree with the story given in the text of the Therigatha Commentary.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Theri, Abhirupa, Nanda, Teri.

Relevant text

No search results for Abhirupa Nanda Theri, Abhirūpa-nandā-therī; (plurals include: Abhirupa Nanda Theris, therīs) in any book or story.