Mahapajapati Gotami, Mahāpajāpatī-gotamī: 1 definition
Introduction:
Mahapajapati Gotami 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)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesAn eminent Theri. She was born at Devadaha in the family of Suppabuddha as the younger sister of Mahamaya.
Ap.ii.538 says her father was Anjana Sakka and her mother Sulakkhana. Mhv.ii.18 says her father was Anjana and her mother Yasodhara. Dandapani and Suppabuddha were her brothers; cp. Dpv.xviii.7f.
At the birth of each sister, interpreters of bodily marks prophesied that their children would be cakkavattins. King Suddhodana married both the sisters, and when Mahamaya died, seven days after the birth of the Buddha, Pajapati looked after the Buddha and nursed him. She was the mother of Nanda, but it is said that she gave her own son to nurses and herself nursed the Buddha. The Buddha was at Vesali when Suddhodana died, and Pajapati decided to renounce the world, and waited for an opportunity to ask the permission of the Buddha.
Pajapati was already a sotapanna. She attained this eminence when the Buddha first visited his fathers palace and preached the Mahadhammapala Jataka (DhA.i.97).
Her opportunity came when the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu to settle the dispute between the Sakiyans and the Koliyans as to the right to take water from the river Rohini. When the dispute had been settled, the Buddha preached the Kalahavivada Sutta, and five hundred young Sakiyan men joined the Order. Their wives, led by Pajapati, went to the Buddha and asked leave to be ordained as nuns. This leave the Buddha refused, and he went on to Vesali. But Pajapati and her companions, nothing daunted, had barbers to cut off their hair, and donning yellow robes, followed the Buddha to Vesali on foot. They arrived with wounded feet at the Buddhas monastery and repeated their request. The Buddha again refused, but Ananda interceded on their behalf and their request was granted, subject to eight strict conditions.
For details see Vin.ii.253ff.; also A.iv.274ff. There was some question, which arose later as to the procedure of Pajapatis ordination, which was not formal. When the nuns discovered this some of them refused to hold the uposatha with her. But the Buddha declared that he himself had ordained her and that all was in order (DhA.iv.149). Her upasampada consisted in acquiescing in the eight conditions laid down for nuns (Sp.i.242).
After her ordination, Pajapati came to the Buddha and worshipped him. The Buddha preached to her and gave her a subject for meditation. With this topic she developed insight and soon after won arahantship, while her five hundred companions attained to the same after listening to the Nandakovada Sutta. Later, at an assembly of monks and nuns in Jetavana, the Buddha declared Pajapati chief of those who had experience (rattannunam) (A.i.25). Not long after, while at Vesali, she realized that her life had come to an end. She was one hundred and twenty years old;
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: Mahapajapati, Gotami.
Full-text: Sulakkhana, Bhikkhuni, Padumuttara, Nigrodharama.
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Search found 7 books and stories containing Mahapajapati Gotami, Mahāpajāpatī-gotamī; (plurals include: Mahapajapati Gotamis, gotamīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dhammapada (Illustrated) (by Ven. Weagoda Sarada Maha Thero)
Verse 391 - The Story of Venerable Nun Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī < [Chapter 26 - Brāhmaṇa Vagga (The Brāhmaṇa)]
Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (early history) (by Prakash Narayan)
Women in the Buddhist Discourse < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Sister-sister < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Banner of the Arahants (by Bhikkhu Khantipalo)
Socially Engaged Buddhism (with reference to Australian society) (by Phuong Thi Thu Ngo)
B (2). Social ideal in the Time of Buddha < [Chapter 5]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
The Dakṣiṇāvibhaṅgasūtra < [III. Recollection of the community (saṃgānusmṛti)]
The Dawn of the Dhamma (by Sucitto Bhikkhu)
Chapter 21 - Formless Rapture < [The Sutta]