Family of Gautama Buddha - Maha Pajapati Gotami

Maha Pajapati Gotami

Maha Pajapati Gotami (Sanskrit: Maha Prajapati Gautami) was the youngest daughter of King Suppabuddha and Queen Amita. She was married to King Suddhodana with her elder sister Mahamaya (or Mayadevi). When her sister died after the birth of Siddartha Gautama she took Siddartha into her care. She also gave birth to a son, Nanda, to King Suddodhana.

After the death of King Suddhodana, Maha Prajapati journeyed to find the Buddha. When she found him, she petitioned the Buddha, through Ananda, to allow women to enter the sangha as bhikkhuni. After many refusals, the Buddha finally agreed to allow women to enter the sangha as long as they accepted eight additional vinaya. These were:

• A bhikkhuni must always pay respect to bhikkhus
• A bhikkhuni must spend the varsa retreat in a retreat where bhikkhus are staying
• Bhikkhunis must ask bhikkhus to give them official teachings twice a month
• Bhikkhunis must perform the end of varsa ceremony in front of bhikkhunis and bhikkhus
• Serious breaches of the vinaya must be dealt with by bhikkhus and bhikkhunis
• Once a trainee has completed her training, she must ask both the bhikkhus and bhikkhunis for ordination
• Bhikkhunis are not to abuse bhikkhus
• Bhikkhus may criticize bhikkhunis (regarding disciplinary matters), but bhikkhunis may not criticize bhikkhus.

Maha Pajapati is said to have given the Buddha a robe made of fine cloth. The Buddha refused it, saying it was too elaborate and would cause the sangha to degenerate. Later Maha Pajapati became an arahant.