Ummadanti, Ummadantī: 1 definition
Introduction:
Ummadanti 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 NamesThe daughter of the banker Tiritavaccha of Aritthapura. When she came of age, she was so beautiful that all who saw her lost control of themselves. At her fathers request, Sivi, the king of the country (who was the Bodhisatta) sent fortune tellers to examine her, with a view to making her his wife, but the brahmins, on seeing her, were so intoxicated with passion that Ummadanti had them driven out of the house. They returned and told the king that she was a witch, and she was, therefore, given in marriage to Ahiparaka, son of the commander in chief. Ummadanti bore the king a grudge for having refused her hand, and one feast day, when the king passed under her window, she threw flowers at him to attract his attention. From the moment that the king saw Ummadanti, he was beside himself with longing for her and lay on his couch raving about her. When Ahiparaka heard what had happened he offered his wife to the king, but Sivi was too righteous to hear of accepting the gift, and by a supreme effort of will he overcame his infatuation.
In a former birth Ummadanti was born in a poor family of Benares, and on a certain festal day having seen some holy women clad in robes dyed scarlet with safflower she asked her parents for a similar robe. Realising that they were too poor to afford the gift, she worked for a long time for another family, and they finally gave her a robe. When she was about to don it, after a bath in the river, she saw a disciple of Kassapa Buddha standing without any proper clothes, his robes having been stolen from the river bank. She first gave him half her garment, then, seeing how radiant he looked in it, she gave him also the other half and uttered a prayer that in a further existence she should surpass all other women in looks and be of maddening beauty.
She is identified with the Theri Uppalavanna. See also ThigA.192, v.28, quoted from the Apadana.
The story is related in the Ummadanti Jataka. J.v.209ff.
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)
Starts with: Ummadanti Jataka.
Full-text: Unmadayanti, Ahiparaka, Aritthapura, Tiritavaccha, Ummadanti Jataka, Sivirattha, Asatamanta Jataka, Cullapaduma Jataka, Sunanda.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Ummadanti, Ummadantī; (plurals include: Ummadantis, Ummadantīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 527: Ummadantī-jātaka < [Volume 5]
Jataka 61: Asātamanta-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Jataka 193: Culla-Paduma-jātaka < [Book II - Dukanipāta]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Vetāla 17: The Beautiful Unmādinī < [Appendix 6.1 - The Twenty-five Tales of a Vetāla]
A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada (by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw)
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Biography (3) Uppalavaṇṇā Therī < [Chapter 44 - Life Histories of Bhikkhunī Arahats]