Yasodharā

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This article gives the traditional legend. How much is historical is hard to say.

Yasodharā's temple

Princess Yasodharā was the daughter of King Suppabuddha and Pamitā, sister of the Buddha's father, King Suddhodana.

She was the same age as Prince Siddhattha and she and the Prince married when they were 16 years of age. At the age of 29 she gave birth to their only child, a boy named Rāhula. On the same day as his birth, the Prince left the palace to seek Enlightenment. Once she realised the Prince was gone, Yasodharā was devastated and overcome with grief. Suddenly the palace, which for so many years had been a place of luxury, comfort and happiness to her, was now like a dungeon. Her only comfort was her infant son.

Hearing that her husband was leading a Holy Life, she emulated Him by removing her jewellery, wearing a plain yellow robe and eating only one meal a day.

Although relatives sent her messages to say that they would maintain her, she did not take up those offers. Several princes sought her hand, but she rejected those proposals. Throughout the six years that the Prince struggled for Enlightenment, Princess Yasodharā followed the news of his actions closely and did likewise.

When the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu, Yasodharā did not go to see her former husband but thought: "Surely if I have gained any virtue at all the Lord will come to my presence."

One day, after his meal the Buddha, accompanied by his two chief disciples entered the chamber of Yasodharā and sat on a seat prepared for Him. Hearing of His visit, Yasodharā swiftly came to him and clasping His ankles and placing her head at his feet, she reverenced Him, demonstrating her affection and respect.

Some time after her son Rāhula became a novice Monk, Yasodharā also entered the Order of Monks and Nuns and within time attained Arahantship. Amongst female disciples she was chief of those who attained great supernormal powers. She died at the age of 78, two years before the Lord Buddha's Parinibbāna.

In many legends of the Buddha's life ^[1], Yashodharā meets Siddhārtha Gautama for the first time in a previous life, when as the young brahmin Sumedha, he is formally identified as a future Buddha by the then current Buddha, Dipankara.

Waiting in the city of Paduma for Dipankara, he tries to buy flowers as an offering to the Enlightened One, but soon learns that the king already bought all the flowers for his own offering. Yet, as Dipankara is approaching, Sumedha spots a girl named Sumidha (or Bhadra) holding eight lotuses in her hands. He speaks to her with the intention of buying one of her flowers, but she recognises at once his potential and offers him five of the lotuses against the promise that they shall be husband and wife in all their next existences.

[edit] References

^ Fu-pen-hing-tsi-king Miscellaneous Notices respecting the Birth and History of Buddha translated by Djinakûta, native of Gandhâra in the time of the Sui dynasty (581-617 A.D.)