Vidura College

Grade 5 - Buddhism (Student Note) - 2nd Term

Two chief (female) disciples for the order of Bhikkunis – (new) –
Lesson 10

Venerable Theri Uppalawanna

She was the daughter of a millionaire in the city of Savatti. She had a complexion
of a blue water lily flower. She was extremely beautiful. As a result, she was
named as Uppalawanna. There were a large number of suitors – princes and sons
of wealthy merchants willing to marry her. Her parents wanted to get her married
to a prince.
But Uppalawanna was not interested in marriage and worldly life.
She informed her parents that she wanted to enter sasana and become a
bhikkuni. At the beginning, her parents did not give their consent. But finally, due
to her pressing request gave their consent.
Then she went to the Bhikkhunis monastery and was ordained as a
bhikkhuni, by meditating and practicing virtues she become an Arahant within a
very short period.
She had great psychic power and was the greatest among the
bikkhunis who could perform miracles. She became a chief of the order of
bhikkhunis. She advised the bhikkhunis whenever necessary and did a great
service for the development of the Buddha Sasana.

GRADE – 5 - BUDDHISM – STUDENT NOTE - THE TWO CHIEF

FEMALE DISCIPLES FOR THE ORDER OF BHIKKUNIS (NEW) – 1
LESSON 10
 When she reached her old age, she went to meet the Buddha and
addressed the Buddha. Oh! Great teacher if at any time I have committed any
wrong doing please forgive me.
The Buddha said that she had not committed any offence and
requested her to perform a miracle in front of the Bhikkhus, Bhikkhunis, Upasakas
and Upasikas to dispel any doubt they had regarding her psychic power.
Then she worshipped the Buddha and having got his permission
performed a miracle using her psychic powers. The people were amazed and
inquired as to how she gained such psychic powers.
She told the people about her previous births. During the period of the Buddha
Padumuththara a bhikkuni was given the highest post of being the greatest
among the persons with psychic powers. On seeing this I too had a wish to obtain
such a post so with that wish in mind I offered alms to the bhikkhus and the
Buddha for seven days. I also offered blue water lily flowers to a pocceka (pase)
Buddha and wished to have the complexion of those flowers. As a result, in this
birth I possess the complexion of a blue water lily and great psychic powers. My
great devotion to the Thisarana too helped me. Saying these words, she attained
Nibbana.

Venerable Therani Khema

She was from a royal family; from the kingdom of Magada in the city of
Sagala. She was one of the beautiful queens of king Bimbisara. She was extremely
beautiful and was also proud of her beauty.
King Bimbisara who was a devout follower of the Buddha went to
Veluvanaramaya temple to listen to sermons of the Buddha. This monastery was
donated by king Bimbisara to the Buddha. Queen Khema who was very proud of
her beauty was not willing to listen to sermons of the Buddha. She in fact began

GRADE – 5 - BUDDHISM – STUDENT NOTE - THE TWO CHIEF

FEMALE DISCIPLES FOR THE ORDER OF BHIKKUNIS (NEW) – 2
LESSON 10
to find fault in Buddha’s sermons and the Thisarana because the Buddha did not
speak well of beauty. This created a problem to the king.
The king worked out a plan to take her to Veluvanaramaya and to get her
to listen to the sermons of the Buddha. He was aware that the queen liked all
beautiful things. So, he got his officers to praise the surroundings of
Veluvanaramaya. On hearing about its beauty khema wanted to see it and went
with her maids. She saw the trees full of flowers, birds singing and ponds covered
with water lilies. She saw disciples listening calmly to a sermon given by the
Buddha. Khema went to the hall where the Buddha was preaching. The Buddha
saw her and with his psychic powers, created an image of a beautiful lady fanning
him to be seen only by Khema. Khema gasped in wonder at her beauty and
realized that there were more beautiful ladies than her. As she was thus
contemplating on the extreme beauty of the other woman the Buddha changed
this beautiful woman to an old figure and finally to a bony skeleton.
On seeing this she realized that just like the lovely image, one day she too
would grow old and die. All vanity of external beauty fell from her and she
instantly understood the impermanence of the physical body and life.
The Buddha gave a sermon based on Tilakkana – Anithya, Dukkha Anathma.
After listening to it she attained sovanhood. She sought permission from the king
to become a Bikkhuni, later she attained Arahathship and explained the Dhamma
to others. Finally, she became the chief of the wisest of the disciples in the order
of Bhikkhunis.
We also should never be proud of our physical beauty as it is an implement
thing.

Activities
1. Name the two chief female disciples of the order of Bhikkhunis?
2. What is the position held by Venerable Therani Uppalawanna among the
bhikkunis?

GRADE – 5 - BUDDHISM – STUDENT NOTE - THE TWO CHIEF

FEMALE DISCIPLES FOR THE ORDER OF BHIKKUNIS (NEW) – 3
LESSON 10
3. What helped Therani Uppalawanna to gain such powerful psychic powers?
4. What is the reason that helped Therani Uppalawanna to possess the
complexion of a blue water lily flower?
5. What is the position held by venerable Therani Khema in the Bhikkuni
order?
6. Why was Khema not willing to listen to sermons given by the Buddha?
7. What did Khema see when she went to see the Buddha?
8. On seeing the image what did Khema finally realize?

GRADE – 5 - BUDDHISM – STUDENT NOTE - THE TWO CHIEF

FEMALE DISCIPLES FOR THE ORDER OF BHIKKUNIS (NEW) – 4
LESSON 10