Great reverence to our first Bhikkhuni foremother, Mahapajapati Gotami

Theravada Buddhist Council of Malaysia

September 8, 2014 · 

Great reverence to our first Bhikkhuni foremother, Mahapajapati Gotami (Mahaprajapati Gautami), ordained with the Buddha on this September full moon day 2597 years ago.

- Ayya Tathaaloka Bhikkhuni

Mahā Pajāpatīgotamī Therīgāthā
Maha Pajapati (Gotami) Theri: A Mother's Blessing Thig 6.6

Buddhavīra namotyatthu sabbasattānamuttama
Yo maṃ dukkhā pamocesi aññañca bahukaṃ janaṃ

Buddha! Hero! Praise be to you!
You foremost among all beings!
You who have released me from pain,
And so many other beings too.

Sabbadukkaṃ pariññātaṃ hetunaṇhā visositā
Bhivito aṭṭhaṅgiko3 maggo nirodhe pūsito mayā

All suffering has been understood.
The source of craving has withered.
Cessation has been touched by me
On the noble eight-fold path.

Mātā pitto pitā bhātā ayyakā ca pure ahuṃ
Yathābhuccaṃ ajānantī saṃsarīhaṃ anibbisaṃ.

I've been mother and son before;
And father, brother — grandmother too.
Not understanding what was real,
I flowed-on without finding [peace].

Diṭṭho hi me so bhagavā antime'yaṃ samussayo
Vikkhiṇo jātisaṃsāro natthi dāni punabbhavo.

But now I've seen the Blessed One!
This is my last compounded form.
The on-flowing of birth has expired.
There's no more re-becoming now.

Āraddhaviriye pahitatte niccaṃ daḷhaparakkame
Samagge sāvake passe esā buddhāna vandani.

See the gathering of followers:
Putting forth effort, self controlled,
Always with strong resolution
—This is how to honor the Buddhas!

Bahunnaṃ4 vata atthāya māyā janayi gotamaṃ
Vyādhimaraṇatunnānaṃ dukkhakkhandha vyapānudi'ti

Surely for the good of so many
Did Maya give birth to Gotama,
Who bursts asunder the mass of pain
Of those stricken by sickness and death.

Itthaṃ sudaṃ mahāpajāpatigotami therī gāthāyo abhāsīti.