Saturday, 18 July 2015

Saṅghamittā

Saṅghamittā ) was the grand daughter of Emperor Bindusara and daughter of Emperor Ashoka and his wife, Vidisha Devi. Together with Mahinda, her brother, she entered an order of Buddhist monks.

BornIn the 3rd century B.C. (281 BC (?))
UjjeniAshokan Period, India
DiedAge 79
AnuradhapuraSri Lanka
Cause of deathOld age
Resting placeSri Lanka
NationalityIndian
Other namesSanghamitrā (Sanskrit)
EducationBuddhist religion
Alma materPreceptor Ayupālā
Known forestablishing Theravāda Buddhist nunnery in Sri Lanka
ReligionTheravada Buddhism
Spouse(s)Aggibrahmā
ChildrenSon – Sumana
Parent(s)Emperor Ashoka (Father)
Devi (Mother)
AwardsArahat Therī credited with establishing the Bhikkhuni Lineage – the Order of Nuns in Sri Lanka

Notes
Her brother Mahindra first went to Sri Lanka to preach Buddhism. Her son Sumana was also with Mahindra in this mission

Early life

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Sangamitta's parents were the Emperor Ashoka and his consort Vidisa Devi (first wife who belonged to the Vaishya caste and who was a Buddhist). Her birth in 285 BC, as popularly known in published texts was as the second child of Ashoka and younger sister of brother Mahindra. She was born in Ujjeini (present day Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh inIndia). Her mother did not join Ashoka when he was crowned and her two children had embraced Buddhism. She was married at the age of 14 to Agribrahmi, a nephew of Emperor Ashoka, who was also an Arhant. She had a son, Saamanera Sumana who also later became an Arhant and went along with his uncle Mahindra to Sri Lanka to preach Buddhism. Her teacher was Ayupala. She was ordained at the age of 18 into Theravada Buddhism Order by their preceptor Dhammapala. Her brother was also ordained at the same time. With her dedicated perseverance to Dhamma she became an Arhant Theri and resided in Pataliputra (now known as Patna)

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