Buddha’s tribute to Yasodhara on Medin Poya Day
A painting that illustrates the Buddha’s first visit to the royal palace in Kapilavasthu after He attained Enlightenment. Courtesy Buddhistpage.com
Today is Medin Pura Pasaloswaka Poya – a Poya which is synonymous with the life of Princess Yasodhara – the wife of Prince Siddhartha. It was on this day that the Buddha made His first visit to the royal palace in Kapilavasthu after He attained Enlightenment and acknowledged Yasodhara’s fidelity. He paid her the highest tribute a wife could receive when He said, “Yasodhara remained faithful to me even in her previous births.”
Yasodhara who confined herself to the royal palace since Prince Siddhartha’s renunciation, found herself portrayed as the tormented, grief-stricken wife, deserted by her husband. She was pitied and her husband’s departure at the time she gave birth to her son which took her by surprise, labelled her as having been ignorant of developments that took place at the royal court. This being the International Women’s Week, an attempt is made to project her in the correct perspective.
Studies by Buddhist scholars of her life indicate that Yasodhara as the closest associate of the Buddha during his lay life would have been aware of the trend of his thoughts. He may have expressed his observations on life to her. Therefore, she may have been familiar with his views. As such, his renunciation which could not have been a sudden development, may not have come as such a shock to Yasodhara.
Under such circumstances, would she have prepared herself for such an eventuality? There is no evidence of attempts made by Yasodhara to obstruct or argue against his quest. Instead, the statement she made when people pitied her “we need to lose small things to gain big things in life,” is evidence that she valued the sacrifice and supported the action of Prince Siddhartha.
Yasodhara was the daughter of Suppabuddha, the ruler of Koliya kingdom, a kingdom which was located at the foot of the Himalayas. Suppabuddha was the brother of Queen Prajapathi Gothami. Yasodhara’s mother Pamitha in the meantime, was the sister of King Suddhodhana. As there was no other family considered equal to them in the region, members of these two royal families, married only among themselves.
Yasodhara which has the meaning “the bearer of glory” was an only child and her story smacks of a Grimm’s fairy tale – a beautiful princess marrying a handsome prince – her cousin who was heir to the neighbouring kingdom of Kimbulwathpura (Kapilavasthu.) Both being of the same age, they were married at the age of sixteen and lived together for 13 years until Prince Siddhartha left the Palace.
It was from this point that her fortunes changed: the agony when her husband departed from the palace, challenges she had to face as that of a young and attractive woman deserted by her husband and having to give up her seven year old son to the Buddha Sasana when she in a disturbed state of mind, sent him to the Buddha in quest of his inheritance.
The poignancy of the mental agony Yasodhara underwent had been echoed and re-echoed in Buddhist literature, art, sculptures, murals and varied forms of art and craft down the ages. What lacked focus was the strength of her character of bravely withstanding her plight and boldly facing the changes 2600 years ago with no apparent recourse to any forms of counselling as solace to her troubles. Until she found salvage in the Dhamma, years later.
On being deserted by Prince Siddhartha, the vivacious Yasodhara had recourse to marriage which may have led her to have a normal family life. According to Professor Sucharitha Gamlath’s “Buddha Charitayaya,” the princess was approached by royal princes including her cousins Devadatta and Sundarananda with proposals of matrimony which she turned down. Even her own family, angered by the fact that Siddhartha turned to a life of an ascetic recalled her to the Koliya palace which was also turned down. And instead of showing anger or hatred towards the Buddha, she, supported by King Suddhodhana and Queen Prajapathi Gothami, followed Siddhartha’s movements closely.
The royal family, on learning that the Buddha had arrived at Rajagahanuwara which was in close proximity to Kapilavasthu, invited Him through a messenger to visit the royal palace. The Buddha accepted the invitation and along with 20,000 monks arrived at Negrodharma Park on Medin Poya Day. King Suddhodhana accompanied by the Shakya clan met the Buddha and it was at this meeting that the Buddha, on seeing the arrogance of the shakyans, performed the “yamaa maha pelahara” which drove the shakya clan to follow the King and pay homage to the Buddha.
At the royal palace, everybody gathered together after partaking of alms and listened to the sermon the Buddha delivered. Although Yasodhara was urged to come out and meet the Buddha, she remained in her inner chamber. She declared, “He will come to me if I have not committed any wrong. I will worship Him then.”
The Buddha on hearing this, handed over His begging bowl to the king, walked into Yasodhara’s chamber and remained seated on the chair prepared for Him allowing Yasodhara to give vent to her feelings. She, according to records, crawled to the Buddha, clasped His ankles, placed His feet on her head and paid reverence as she wished. The Buddha who advised others not to disturb her, allowed her to pay homage as she wished.
King Suddhodhana informed the Buddha that Yasodhara, overcome with grief after Prince Siddhartha left the palace, emulated Him by removing her jewellery, dispensing of royal robes and consuming one meal a day. “When you had done away with luxury beds she too did it. And she stopped wearing garlands, using perfumes and anointing scents on her body.” The Buddha in reply said she remained faithful to Him even in her previous births and related the Sandakinduru Jatakaya.
Yasodhara, following the death of King Suddhodhana, decided to tread the path of the Buddha and along with Queen Prajapathi left the palace and was ordained as a bhikkuni. She attained the state of an Arahant and Arahant Theri Yasodhara died at the age of 78, two years before the Passing Away of the Buddha.