Mahāpajāpatī
Gotamī (Mahāprājāpati Gautmī) was foster mother of Gautama Buddha. She was younger
sister of Mahāmāyā (mother of Buddha). King Suddhodhana married both the sisters,
and when Mahāmāyā died, seven days after the birth of the Buddha, Pajāpati
looked after the Buddha and nursed him.
After King
Suddhodhana, father of the Buddha, died, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, foster mother of
the Buddha, along with 500 Sākyan women, met the Buddha during his visit to
Kapilavatthu (Kapilavstu) and expressed a willingness to join the Saṅgha. The Buddha’s response was ‘no’ (AA.i.186).
Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī along with the 500 Sākyan women, who were firm with their
resolve to get ordained, traveled to Kūtāgārasālā (Vaiśālī), where the Buddha along with
the Saṅgha was residing. They again
approached the Buddha with the same request and received the same answer as
before. Disheartened but still hoping to find a solution, they approached Ānanda.
Ānanda, at his persuasive best, answered all the queries of the Buddha who
finally consented to the Bhikkhunī order with some
additional vinaya rules for the Bhikkhunīs(Vin.ii.253ff).
Parinirvāṇa (Death) of Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī
When Gotamī
learnt about the impending parinirvāṇa of
the Buddha. She met the Buddha and told, ‘I
cannot bear that you quit this world while I am living. I want to die before
you.’ Having returned to their monastery, she along with many other nuns
sat down to meditate. Immediately Prajāpatī lifted herself in sky, exhibited
all the gifts of ṛṣi, traversing in space
at will, and emitting rays of light. Her followers did the same. Finally all of them passed from ecstasy into nirvāṇa. It is said that the
marvels which attended her cremation rites were second only to those of the
Buddha. (Cited from Mahāprajāpatī-Parinirvāṇa-Sūtra)
Episode
of cremation of Mahāprjāpatī Gotamī as Illustrated in Ming Woodcuts. [Line drawings from Shih-shis yüan-liu (Origin of the Buddha) compiled from several Sūtra-s by Monk Pao-ch’eng during Ming
period(1368–1644 CE)]
Where did Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī attain parinirvāṇa?
Chinese monk-scholar Xuanzang in 7th
CE during his stay at Vaiśālī paid pilgrimage to the place where Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī
attained nirvāṇa. The place was 3-4 Li, north-east of the Sammatiya
monastery. Place where
Mahāprajāpatī attained nirvāṇa was a village and at the time of the Buddha, Vimlakirti and Ambapāli
(Āmrapāli), the courtesan lived there. It was here in Ambapāli’s place that Mahāprajāpatī and numerous nuns’ attained nirvāṇa. Xuanzang saw stūpas to
mark the dwellings of Vimlakirti and Ambapāli (Watters 2004: II, 69).
Xuanzang paid pilgrimage to numerous sacred places spread
out in Vaiśālī. Xuanzang travelogue suggests that during his visit at Vaiśālī
he stayed at sammatiya monastery. The places visited by Xuanzang may be broadly
clubbed into 6 groups (fig).
1.
Royal
Precinct, Rājā Bishāl kā Gaḍh (established site)
2. 5-6
Li north-west of 1
Sammatiya
Monastery
Stūpa
where Sāriputra became Arhat
Stūpa
where Buddha delivered Vimalakirtti-nirdeśa-sūtra
3. South-east
of 2
Buddha
body relic stūpa by Licchavis (established site)
4. North-west of 3
Stūpa-where
monkey offered honey to Buddha
Markaṭa
Hrada (Monkey tank)
Ashokan
Pillar and Stūpa (established site)
5. 3-4
Li north-east of 2
Stūpa
to mark house of Vimalakirti and Āmrāpali
Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī attain nirvāṇa
6.
3-4 Li north of 2
Stūpa-
Buddha stopped in his last journey to kuśinārā
Monastery
offered by Āmrāpali
Stūpa-Buddha
announced death
Ānanda half
body relcs stūpa
Double-Galleried
vihāra
Places 1, 3 and 4 are established (Fig.1). Group of places marked 2,
5 and 6 are the most probable location based on circumstantial evidence ( the ancient remains at the
place and its location based on Xuanzang’s description).
 |
| Fig.1- GIS Mapping (interpretation) of Xuanzang's description of Vaiśālī
|
Is Birpur the site where Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī attained nirvāṇa?
GIS (Geographic Information System) study of Xuanzang’s
description for sacred places in Vaiśālī suggests that the place where
Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī attained nirvāṇa should be around 1.5 to
2.5 kms (3-4 Li) in North-east direction of Sammatiya monastery. Sammatiya
monastery should be in close proximity of Relic Stūpa site (established site).
GIS plotting for Gotamī‘s nirvāṇa place takes us to the
village Birpur. As a crow fly distance between the probable site of Sammatiya monastery (village Chak Ramdas)
and Birpur is 2.5 kms.
With help of a few village elders we reached the south-west corner
of village (Birpur) that has a few ancient mounds. Villagers shared how many of
mounds were lost in recent years when the earth was removed for the newly
constructed railway track. Removal of earth has also revealed rich
archaeological remains in form of pottery, ring wells etc. These finds are
spread over a very large area and suggests this to be a habitation place in
ancient times. The pottery found from the mounds has NBPW
(northern black polished ware), black slip ware shreds. It is an established
fact that NBPW pottery has been dated to 7th BCE to 1st BCE.
When the earth was being removed for the construction of the railway track, the
villagers saw remains of a long stretch of track, which are probably the
remains of an ancient path running north to south (towards Rājā bishāl ka
gaḍh).
Nothing can be said with certainty, but all the circumstantial
evidence suggests that Birpur should be the place where Gotamī attained nirvāṇa. A
scientific exploration by experts and excavations is a must to reveal the
significance of the place.
However, until that happens, it’s crucial that the villagers are
aware about the importance of the place and they contribute towards the
preservation of the ancient remains. We shared our objective
of visit with the villagers. Villagers were very excited to learn the possible
association of their village with Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī, Vimalakirti and
Āmrāpali. Villagers promised that they will do whatever necessary to
protect the mounds and the ancient remains.
 |
| Fig-2- Birpur |
 |
| Fig.3- Exposed ring well |
 |
| Fig.4- Removal of earth has revealed ancient remains |
 |
| Fig.5- Ancient Potsherds |
 |
| Fig.6- Ancient Potsherds |
 |
| Fig.7- Discussion with the village elders, remains of an ancient mound in the background |
 |
| Fig.8- An ancient mound in the vicinity of Birpur. |
Bibliography
1. Watters, Thomas; 2004, On Yuan
Chwang’s Travels in India, (Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and S.W. Bushell),
Reprinted in LPP 2004, Low Price Publications, Delhi. (First published by Royal
Asiatic Society, London, 1904-05).
Abbreviations of Bibliography:
Source of Pāli references: http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/dic_idx.html
P.T.S.
Means published by the Pāli Text Society
SHB. means published in the
Simon Hewavitarne Bequest Series (Colombo)
AA.=Manorathapūranī,
Anguttara Commentary, 2 vols. (S.H.B.).
Vin.=Vinaya Pitaka, 5 vols.,
ed. Oldenberg (Williams and Norgate).
1 comment:
Very much appreciate this post--thank you very much Mr Deepak Anand ji!
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