English
{Amdwatura,) It was during the residence of Budha at Maha-wana wihara, that he delivered the discourse called the Maha Samaya Sdtra, when a kela-laksha of d^was and brahmas became rahats, and an asankya entered the three paths. With this discourse they are greatly pleased, and call it " our sdtra." The wives of the 500 princes, when they heard that their husbands had become rahats, thought it would be better for them also to become recluses, than to remain at home in widow- hood. They therefore requested Prajdpati to go with them to Budha, that they might receive consecration. At this time Budha was residing in the Nigrodardma wihdra, near Kapila, whither he had come on account of the festival to be held at the burning of the body of Sudhodana, who was now dead; and after the ceremony was concluded, he remained in the same place a short period that he might assist his relatives, by instructing them in the dharmma. The queen- mother, Prajapati, said to Budha that as Sudhddana was dead, and Bahula and Nanda were priests, she had no wish to reside alone ; and therefore requested, that with the other princesses by whom she was accompanied, she might be admitted to profession. It was clearly perceived by the sage that if these females were admitted to profession, they would derive therefrom immense advantages ; and he saw also that it was the practice of former Budhas to admit them ; but he reflected that if they were admitted, it would perplex the minds of those who had not yet entered into the paths, and VII. LEGENDS OF g6TAMA BUDHA. 321 caii£e others to speak agaiost his institutions. He therefore, thonght it would not be right to accede to their request at once, and said, "Women, seek not to enter mj immaculate order/' Three times thej presented their request, but as it was still refused, they were afraid to make it a fourth time, and retired to their homes. From Kapila, Budha went to the Eiitagara-si,la, near Wisil^. Then Praj4pati said to the other princesses : — " Children, Budha has thrice refused to admit us to profession ; let us take it upon ourselves, and then go to him, and he cannot but receive us/' On hearing this advice, they were pleased, and the whole of them cut ofE their hair, put on the proper robe, and taking earthen alms-bowls in their hands, prepared to depart from their homes. The queen-mother thought that it would not be right for them to go in chariots, as it would be contrary to the institutions of the recluse ; they must travel in some manner that would be attended with fatigue ; and they, therefore, set out for Wisdla on foot. Previously they had thought it a great thing to have to descend from the upper to the lower story of the palace ; they were only accustomed to walk in places so smooth that they were like mirrors that reflected the image of all things near them ; for fuel in the palace, when fires were required on account of the cold, they had only burnt cotton and silk cloth smeared with oil, as common wood would have caused too much heat, and sandal wood too much smoke ; even when they went to the bath they were protected by curtains and canopies ; and in every respect were brought up in the most delicate manner. In consequence of their extreme tenderness, their feet were soon covered with blisters, when they began to walk. The people of those parts, who had previously heard of their beauty, no sooner knew that they were on their way, than they came from all directions to look at them. Some prepared food, and requested they would do them the favour to partake of it, whilst others brought vehicles and litters, and entreated that they would make use of them ; bat they resolutely refused to take advantage of these kind offers of assistance. The distance from Kapila to Wisdl^ was fifty-one yojanas. It was evening when they arrived at the wih^ra in which Budha was residing ; they did not enter within but remained at the outside. When Ananda saw them, with bleeding feet, covered with dust, and half dead, his breast was Y 322 A MANUAL OF BUDHISM. full of sorrow, and his eyes filled with tears, and he said, " Why have yon come ? For what reason have yon endnred these hard- ships ? Have the Sakyas been driven from their city by the enemy ? Why does the mother of Bndha remain in snch a place?*' An answer to these questions was returned by Prajapati ; on hearing which Ananda requested them to remain there whilst he went and informed Budha of their arrival. To the sage he related all that he had seen, and described the wretchedness of the appearance presented by the princesses, at the same time inform- ing him of their wish ; but he merely said, " Ananda, seek not to have females admitted to profession." The priest then asked if the queen- mother was not worthy of being admitted, but he received only the. same rebuke ; and though he thrice repeated the question, no other reply was given. Then he enquired whether a female, on the supposition that she was admitted to profession, could enter the paths ; and Budha said, '* Are the Budhas bom in the world only for the benefit of men P Assuredly it is for the benefit of females as well. When I delivered the Tirdkudha- stitra, many women entered the paths, as did also many d6wis when I delivered the Abhidharmma in Tawutisd. Have not Wisakh4, and many other upasikawas, entered the paths ? The entrance is open for women as well as men." No d^wa or brahma wo old have been able to say more upon the same subject to the teacher of the world, but as Ananda knew his thoughts, he was bold, and said, *' My lord, it Is right that women should be admitted to profession; when you delivered the Budha^wansa discourse, you made known that this was one of the institutions of the twenty-four Budhas who have preceded you." With this reply of Ananda, Budha was pleased ; but he said nothing, nor did he give permission to Prajapati to enter, that more might be elicited upon the subject. Ananda, therefore, continued ; '* It is evident that women may be admitted to profession; then why may not Prajdpati, who has rendered so much assistance to Budha? What hinderance can there be ? And he proclaimed at length the benefits that Budha had received from Prajapati in his childhood. When he had concluded, the great teacher saw that the time had now come in which it would be proper to admit the princesses to profession ; and he therefore said, ** Ananda, if Prajapati be VU. LEGENDS OF g6tAMA BUDIIA. 323 admitted to profession, there are eight requirements to which the female reclases must attend. The eight ordinances were repeated by Ananda to Prajdpati and the other princesses, and when they heard the conditions upon which they could be admitted to profession, they were greatly delighted, and at once promised that all the ordinances shonld be strictly observed. They were admitted to profession in the presence of the priests ; and when they had received upasam- pada, Praj&pati was appointed by Budha to be the chief of the female recluses, and to instruct her relatives in the necessary discipline. Not many days afterwards, when eirercising bhdwand, she became a rahat : and the 500 princesses entered the paths at the time that Budha delivered the Nandakowada-siitra to the priest Nanda. The number of the females who were admitted to profession after this period cannot be computed, but the chapters, both of the priests and priestesses, increased so greatly, that in all Jambudwipa it was scarcely possible to find a suitable place for the exercise of wiweka, or solitary meditation. On a certain occasion, when Budha was surrounded by his disci- ples, Prajdpati began to utter his praises, and said, '* May your glory increase continually. By means of your mother, Mahamaya, who brought you into the world, blessings without number have been conferred." And she proceeded in her speech and said, " May you live long ; may you never decay or die ; may you exist a whole kalpa, that you may continue to bless the world." All the orders of the priesthood who were present joined in this ascription of praise ; but when the noise of their voices had passed away, Budha said, " The ornaments of a Budha are his srdwaka priests, as dutiful nobles are the ornaments of a king, and the stars of a moon ; the Budhas desire to see their srdwakas many in number." He therefore directed his disciples to say, " May the pure priesthood continue and increase," but to express no desire for the increase of the age of Budha.