Nanda - Life History

The Himalayan foothills is green and very beautiful. The tall white rock-peaks seem to touch the blue sky. The shawl and pine trees always stand like a seeker bearing the icy rain. In such a state, the glorious city of Shakya district is Kapilvastu, where Lord Buddha spent his childhood days in Rajprasad. After the birth of the infant Rahul, in the hour of great renunciation, he had given up everything for the welfare of the world and after years of severe penance, the conqueror Lord Buddha turned the wheel of Dharma. He had also come to Kapilvastu in Rajgriha, Magadha and Kosala, doing the welfare of the living beings with Sudha's preaching. At that time his uncle Gautami-son Nanda, Yashodhara's circle-wealth Rahul and other Shakya-kumars had considered themselves blessed by taking Pravrajya and taking refuge in the Triratna. Later on, with the efforts of Mahadevi Mahaprajapati Gautami, five hundred women like Mahaprajapati, Goddess Yashodhara, Sundrika, etc., adopted the path of spiritual practice and took up the life of Pravraj.

Nanda was born under the city of Kapilvastu in the same Puneet Shakya dynasty. This beauty was called Nanda because of her very beautiful appearance. She had also received the title of 'Janapad Kalyani', the best beautiful woman of the district. Many Sakya-Sukumaris became bhikkhunis wearing Kashay clothes, but the beauty-seller Nanda remained happy in the luxuries of the Raj Bhavan. Although the gaiety of Kapilvastu did not remain the same, neither was Rahul, nor Devi Mahaprajapati, nor Yashodhara, nor Nandputri Sundrika. In such a situation, Rupvati Nanda was watching the beautiful play of the moon with the clouds standing near Vatayan with the aim of forgetting the silence. The dance of the Rashmis was taking place on the tips of the diamond studded kankan of his soft taxes. Saurabh was spreading the buds of Juhi, intertwined in Urmil's hair. Mani Deep's aura was making the atmosphere serious, but Nanda's heart was getting disturbed. Suddenly, rising from the horizon, a dark-brown cloud hid the moon. The dance of the rays stopped. Distressed from the nearby reservoir, Chakvi cried out in the separation of the beloved. Hearing him, Nanda also shivered, Juhi's buds were scattered. Nanda took a deep breath, as her agony deepened in the darkness. She thought- "Chakvi, how much is there being disrespectful in the memory of a loved one, but me? All my dear people have gone to the shelter of God considering the life of sacrifice as superior to the glory. Are these means more valuable than the affection of loved ones? ’ The voice of his conscience was – “No. Nanda decided. She will also accept Pravrajya in the morning by giving up everything.

Sundari Nanda got absorbed in the Bhikkhuni-Sangh according to her determination, but the pride of the form was present in her as before. His desire to be near loved ones had been fulfilled. So she did not go to listen to the teachings of Tathagata. He was also afraid that Shasta might accuse him of appearance, because he despises appearance and pride. But he should not stay away from the compassion of Mahakarunik.

Could . He considered her to be the authority of attainment of knowledge and ordered Bhikkhuni Mahaprajapati Gautami, the head of the Bhikkhuni-Sangha, that 'all the bhikkhunis should come to listen to the preaching'.

Everyone went to Tathagata to listen to auspicious sermons, but Ruprani Nanda sent a bhikkhuni as her representative to listen to the sermon. Tathagata took pity on his ignorance. He ordered again - "No bhikkhuni should send his representative. Being compelled, Nanda went in front of Mahakarunika. Shasta, with the help of his subtle intellect, made him see a very beautiful woman there, who gradually became mature, then a little (old age) relaxed him. The beauty is gone, the hair turned white and the waist bowed. Then she became invisible. Nanda looked shocked and then understood - the impermanence of form, the impermanence of life. She shivered, her heart trembled and she realized her mistake. Her mind became detached from the world and she fell in reverence at the feet of the Lord.

God preached to him in the face of suffering

"Nanda? Seeing the body of impurity and disease, being situated in samadhi, the mind felt in an inauspicious feeling. Nanda! Be introverted night and day, only by supervising the body, with the help of your knowledge, you will be free from beauty, you will see the truth. ,

Hearing the nectar of God, she became a true seeker and on the virtuous occasion of attaining knowledge, she said in the form of a saga.

“I contemplated the teachings of Shasta deeply. When I saw the true nature of the body from within, then I was devastated by this body.

Blessed was she who had attained incomparable peace. He had the distinction of listening to the divine voice of Mahakarunik and even today his words in Theri-gatha remain a symbol of his knowledge and fame.