Isidasi Theri, Isidāsī-therī: 1 definition

Introduction:

Isidasi Theri means something in Buddhism, Pali. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Isidasi Theri in Theravada glossary
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

She was the daughter of a good and wealthy merchant of Ujjeni. Having come of age, she was given in marriage to the son of a merchant in Saketa.

For one month she lived with him as a devoted wife; then because of her past kamma, her husband became estranged from her, and turned her out of the house. She was married again with the same result, and a third time to a friar. Isidasis father persuaded him to give up the pilgrims life; he dwelt with his wife only for a fortnight and refused to stay with her any more. Isidasi then met the theri Jinadatta, whom she entertained to a meal at her house. Under Jinadatta, Isidasi joined the Order and became an arahant.

The Therigatha (vv.400-47), which contains forty seven verses ascribed to her, describes not only her present life, but also her past lives. She had been a worker in gold in Erakaccha and had committed adultery in that life. As a result she was born in hell for a long time, and, in subsequent births became an ape, a goat, an ox, a hermaphrodite slave and a carters daughter. In this last birth she was sold to a merchant in payment of her fathers debts. When she was sixteen, the merchants son, Giridasa, fell in love with her and married her. He had already one wife, and the new one caused dissension between her and her husband. Therefore it was that in this life she was hated by her husbands. This account of her sojourn in samsara was related by Isidasi in response to a request by one of her fellow nuns, Bodhi (ThigA.260ff).

Mrs. Rhys Davids thinks (Sisters, Introd. pp.xxii f) that Isidasis verses in the Therigatha suggest late literary craft and bear the impress of late literary creation. The scene is Pataliputta, and not any of the usual towns mentioned in the Canon, and the name of Isidasis sponsor Jindatta - is, she says, significant. Perhaps there are traces here of Jainistic influence.

In the Dipavamsa (xviii.9) Isidasi (Isidasika) is mentioned in a list of eminent theris who were leaders of the Order of bhikkhunis.

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).

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