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Sanghamitta | |
|---|---|
 Arahath Sangamitta Theri Statue at a Monastery in Sri Lanka | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 282 BC[1] |
| Died | 203 BC[1] (aged c. 78 – 79) Anuradhapura Kingdom, (Present day Sri Lanka) |
| Resting place | Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Spouse | Aggibrahmā |
| Children | Son – Sumana |
| Parents | |
| Known for | Establishing a Theravāda Buddhist nunnery in Sri Lanka |
| Other names | Sanghamitrā (Sanskrit), Ayapali |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Sect | Theravada |
Saṅghamittā (Saṅghamitrā in Sanskrit, nun's name Ayapali;[1] 282 BC – 203 BC[1]) was an Indian Buddhist nun and believed to be the eldest daughter (Sri Lankan Tradition) of Emperor Ashoka (304 BC – 232 BC) from his first wife Queen Devi (302 BCE – 242 BCE). Together with her brother Mahinda, she entered an order of Buddhist monks. The two siblings later went to Sri Lanka to spread the teachings of Buddha at the request of Sri Lankan King Devanampiya Tissa (250 BC – 210 BC) who was a contemporary of Ashoka. Ashoka was initially reluctant to send his daughter (Sri Lankan Tradition) on an overseas mission. However, because of the insistence of Sangamitta herself, he finally agreed. She was sent to Sri Lanka together with several other nuns to start the nun-lineage of Bhikkhunis (a fully ordained female Buddhist monastic) at the request of King Tissa to ordain queen Anulā and other women of Tissa's court at Anuradhapura who desired to be ordained as nuns after Mahinda converted them to Buddhism.[2][3][4][5][6]
After Sanghamittā’s contribution to the propagation of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and her establishing the Bhikkhunī Sangha or Meheini Sasna (Order of Nuns) there, her name became synonymous with "Buddhist Female Monastic Order of Theravāda Buddhism" that was established not only in Sri Lanka but also in Burma, China and Thailand, in particular. The day the most revered tree, the Bodhi tree, a sapling of which was brought by her to Sri Lanka and planted in Anuradhapura, and which still survives, is also celebrated every year on the Full Moon day of December as Uduvapa Poya or Uposatha Poya and Sanghamittā Day by Theravāda Buddhists in Sri Lanka.[3][5][7]
- ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference
Dalmiyawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Sanghamittā Therī". What the Buddha said in plain English!. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
- ^ a b "A brief history of Sanghamitta". Bodhistav Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "Mahindagamanaya was more than a diplomatic mission". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 6 September 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ a b "Theri Sanghamitta and The Bodhii—tree" (PDF). California: A Gift of Dhamma:Maung Paw. pp. 1–8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Harishchanndar, Walisinha (1998). The sacred city of Anuradhapura. Asian Educational Services. pp. 29–36. ISBN 81-206-0216-1. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ "How to be Real Buddhist through Observance?". What Buddha Said Net. Archived from the original on 27 June 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2010.