Amrapali - Life History

Lord Tathagata was the preacher of samyaksambuddha equality, freedom, compassion and friendship. He was the first great man of the world who established these qualities not only in the form of principles but also on practical basis. This practical form is clearly visible in the Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni-Sangha of the Tathagata Buddha. Tathagata Buddha made women his followers apart from men without any discrimination. He was admitted to the Bhikkhuni-Sangha. For example, Yashodhara, Visakha, Poornima, Mahapragyavati, Khema, Patachara, Sujata, Prakriti etc. Amrapali had a special place among the female bhikkhunis in the Tathagata Buddha view because she, despite being a city bride and dancer, had self-respect, fearlessness and amazing ability to fight against injustice. After coming in contact with Lord Buddha, he soon attained the position of Arhat because of his unwavering devotion and loyalty to his Dhamma.

Amrapali was born in Vaishali district. There is no information about his parents in history. First of all, Mahanama, the watchman of the Vajji-Sangha's rule, saw an object wrapped in white cloth under a mango tree. On passing it came to know that she was a girl. Due to being found under a mango tree, Mahanaam named her Amrapali. Amrapali was brought up in childhood by Mahanaam and his wife. Amrapali was a very beautiful, attractive and playful girl from childhood. When she turned 18, her beauty further improved. In fact, his personality was magnetic. Extraordinary appearance, sharpness, daring, prudence, amazing courage, music, art, self-respect etc. Amrapali, the unmatched beauty, used to fascinate anyone effortlessly. The patriarchs and princes of the Vaishali republic were all impressed by her beauty. They all wanted to make him their own. But on the basis of the law of Vaishali district, Amrapali could not marry. According to the legislation of the district, Amrapali was made a city bride and on the basis of this rule, she was declared as the district Kalyani. Amrapali strongly opposed this announcement. According to the legislation of the district, Amrapali was asked to take the oath of a nagarvadhu in the council of the district. He refused to come to the council saying, “The law which is one sided, that law is unjust, it deserves to be condemned and it is a stigma to the district.

"Amrapali was also proficient in music, dance, hunting, archery, horse handling etc. She had no shortage of any kind but she definitely had the pain of being a dancer. Once Tathagata Buddha was staying in Amravana of Vaishali district. Amrapali came to know that Tathagata Buddha was staying in her Amravan, she soon reached Amravan in her beautiful chariot. After some walk she reached the place where Tathagata Buddha was sitting in meditation. Amrapali greeted her and went to one side and sat down. After listening to the sermon, Amrapali prayed to Lord Buddha. Bhante! With the bhikkhusangh, you accept tomorrow's meal with us. The Lord silently accepted.

On his way back he met the Lichchivi prince. Amrapali was very happy because Lord Buddha accepted Amrapali's food. Due to happiness, she was not behaving properly with Licchavi. It was from Amrapali that I came to know that tomorrow's food of God is at Amrapali's house only. Then the princes said to Amrapali, "One lakh seals and give this food to us. "Aryan sons! Even if you give even to the entire Vaishali republic, I will not give this great food. "The next day Lord Buddha reached Amrapali's house with the bhikkhus. Amrapali brought all the bhikkhus with great reverence and reverence. After that, she served food to all the bhikkhus with her own hands.

After the meal, Tathagata Buddha while giving the Dhamma to Amrapali said, “The true Dhamma is to have friendship towards all beings, compassion towards the afflicted, equanimity towards all beings of the world. Lord Buddha preached impermanence to Amrapali on this occasion and said, "The world and all its material and conscious things are impermanent, changeable, changeable, impermanent." The teachings of the Lord had a great effect on Amrapali. Reverence for Buddha and his religion developed in Amrapali's mind. He took a pravrajya from Lord Buddha. After that Bhikkhuni joined the Sangh. After becoming a bhikkhuni, he inspected his conscience that his youth of happiness had come to an end, now a great change has come. Seeing his changed condition, he said, "This my body was once the center of pleasure, sex was the center of play. Seeing my wonderful beauty, great princes used to walk behind me, but today there has been a huge change in that condition. "

Amrapali has made a special place in Buddhism only because of her unwavering devotion to religion and sincere devotion to Buddhism. Amrapali town Shobhini became Dharma Shobhini from district Kalyani due to her religious loyalty and the great compassion of Tathagata Buddha.