Patachara - Life History

In this story, where the suffering women get the courage to overcome adversity and the path of liberation from suffering. On the other hand, the greatness of Lord Buddha's incomparable wisdom-power is also proved.

The slain of adversity, who took refuge in God's holy refuge, got freedom from sorrows and, forgetting the miserable life, rising on the bright path of knowledge, attained the highest position of Sangh-nayika and Vinayadhara, illuminated five hundred miserable women like himself. Showed the path and freed them from grief, the name of that sadhika woman was Patachara.

On being a bhikkhuni, this sad woman became famous by the name of Patachara. The sad events of his life were also associated with this name. The former name of Patachara is not known to anyone. She was the daughter of a wealthy Seth of Shravasti. As soon as she was young, her parents wanted to marry her with a wealthy and ethnic merchant-son, but she had already fallen in love with one of their servants before marriage. Seeing no hope of marriage with him, she quietly ran away from home with him one day. He wanted her more than his life. He also took full care of its comfort and convenience. After going to a distant country, both of them got married duly. For some time both of their days went well. In the meantime she became pregnant. Although she had run away with her desired husband without the permission of her parents, her memory was always in her mind. Not seeing proper delivery arrangements with the poor husband during pregnancy, he sought permission to go to his parents' house, but the husband did not consider it appropriate to go there and avoided with smooth talk.

Then one day he secretly left the house and took the path of his father's home, Shravasti. On being met on the way, the husband understood her and brought her back after extinguishing it. Both started living happily again. After some time a beautiful son was also born to her. The golden days began to pass. She became pregnant again and took the path of father's home. Her husband again understood and was bringing her back after extinguishing it. There was a heavy storm on the way and it started raining heavily. Her pitiable condition and sorrow was not seen from her beloved husband. He went near a bush and started cutting some branches, so that he could protect his wife by creating a shadow. A snake living in the bush bit him, due to which he died there.

Shortly after delivery, she went in search of her husband with her new baby and young son. The sad woman felt very sad to see her husband dead while searching. She started crossing the river to go to Sravasti with both the sons. The river was flooded due to rain and there was also an uninhabited forest across it, could not last long. So the new-born baby was crossed by the river, on the other bank he put him to sleep near the bush and took the eldest son in his arms and descended into the river. Then an eagle took that baby as a flesh and took it away. She shouted Abla Mata, applauded, but the eagle

Do not leave the baby. Being compelled, the only support moved towards the eldest son. She was stunned when she saw him. His eldest son understood that his mother was calling him with clapping and he came into the flow of the river. Patachara made lakhs of efforts, but could not save her.

Weeping and lamenting, helpless in every way, she proceeded towards Sravasti. On the way, on asking a traveler the condition of his parents, he heard that his parents, brothers, etc. have died due to the collapse of the roof, the smoke rising in the crematorium belongs to them all. On hearing this, Patachara fell down after being left behind. He didn't even care about the clothes. Due to lack of care for clothes and modesty, the daughter of that rich Shresthi, poor wife and miserable mother was called 'Patachara'.

In those days, Mahakarunik Lord was preaching to the bhikkhusangh at Sravasti. The clothed, frantic Patachara, lamenting, fell at the feet of the Lord. Karunanidhi Tathagata, who showers nectar, said in a soft voice - 'Sister' Chaitanya benefits. "By his mercy, he benefited from consciousness, till then someone put clothes on him. Patachara narrated her sad story weeping to those Vishwadevatas. The Lord gave him the teachings of Saddhama, this gave him great peace of mind, he made him a wanderer on the path of Nirvana.

The bhikkhuni Patachara got absorbed in spiritual practice. The Lord was pleased and gave him a leading position among the humble bhikkhunis. One day the bhikkhuni Patachara was sitting and washing her hands and she saw that the water had dried up after flowing some distance. He poured water again, that too dried up after going some distance. On the same basis he thought, life is also impermanent in the same way. Some die early, some die late. Staying in the holy refuge of the three jewels, he attained the status of arhtva while doing similar thoughts and spiritual practice. His teachings had great influence. Like him, so many sad women took discipleship from him and went to the shelter of the Triratna and attained peace. Once she was preaching among many women, at that time about fifty women impressed by her teachings came on the path of spiritual practice. It was a matter of pride. Having attained the position of Arhat, while examining his life, what he has said in the saga. It is a symbol of his own spiritual practice. Patachara has said - 

“Plow the plow and sow the seeds.

“Humans create wealth by obeying women and sons etc. Then I, why don't I become a seeker for Nirvana? I am a believer of Shasta's rule and a modesty. 

Elsewhere Bhikkhuni Patachara has said

“One day after washing my hands and feet, I saw the water going down from a high place. I fixed my mind in samadhi. "...... ... meditated sitting in front of the lamp."

"... I dipped the needle in oil to make the lamp's stigma (flame) back some.

Theri Patachara's craving was quenched forever. She rose to the fore in the Vinayadharas and established an important pillar of fame in the reign of the Buddha.