Buddha in Ayodhya-II

Marriage of Visakha

During the time of Buddha, King Pasenadi was the ruler of Kosal mahajanpada. He had a treasurer named Migara. When Migara’s son Punnavaddhana attained the age of marriage, many marriage proposals were received. However, Punnavaddhana said no to all of them. At last Migara asked his son if he had a girl in his mind? Punnavaddhan replied that he would agree for marriage only if the girl possessed the Five Beauties.

Migara deputed eight Brahmins to search for a girl with the Five Beauties. After searching for a long time, the Brahmins met Vishakha, daughter of Dhananjaya the richest merchant of Saketa. Visakha was a blessed child who became sotapanna at the age of seven. She possessed the Five Beauties. When Brahmins approached Dhananjaya, he consented to the marriage of Visakha. After all, Migara was the treasurer of Kosala. Subsequently, Brahmins informed Migara about Visakha. Being a follower of Nigantha, Migara hesitated for a while. He feared disapproval from Jain monks for a Buddhist girl. However, he finally agreed for marriage for the happiness of his son.

The marriage of Punnavaddhan with Visakha was celebrated on a grand scale at Saketa. The celebration was attended by King Pasenadi with his retinue. After the ceremony, Dhananjaya asked Visakha for the observance of the following Ten Injunctions: The indoor fire is not to be carried outside; the outdoor fire is not to be carried inside; give only to him that gives; give not to him that gives not; give both to him that gives, and to him that gives not; sit happily; eat happily; sleep happily; tend the fire; honor the household divinities. When Dhananjaya was instructing Visakha on the Ten Injunctions, Migara overheard it couldn’t comprehend. Migara became skeptical but kept quiet for the occasion. Dhananjaya then appointed eight sponsors for Visakha and directed them to try her in case any charges were brought against her. King Pasenadi, treasurer Migara, and retinue left Saketa with lasting memories of the celebration.

When Visakha reached Savatthi, her mare gave birth to a foal the same night. She went to the stable and gave a bath to her mare. However, her compassion for animals didn’t go well with Migara. It aggravated when the Naked Ascetics of the Jain Order learned that Visakha is the follower of Buddha. The rivalry between Buddhist and Jain Orders was at peak on those days. The fear of Migara proved right; Jain monks expressed their disapproval for Visakha. Migara somehow pacified the Jain monks and invited them for a meal. It was the first encounter of Visakha with Jain monks. She innocuously remarked that they are eating “stale fare”. Migara overheard the remark and lost his temper. He asked Visakha to vacate the house immediately. Visakha protested and claimed the right of being tried before her eight sponsors.

The next day, the sponsors were summoned. Migara brought three charges against Visakha: first, she has accused Jain monks of eating what is unclean; second, she left the house at night; and third, she had performed the work of menials. Visakha proved her innocence on the first charge by explaining her remarks on Jain monks. What she meant was that Jain monks were living on stale merit instead of acquiring fresh merit. Next, she informed them that she left the house at night out of her compassion for the animal. All the charges were thus dropped.

Migara then asked Visakha to explain the meaning of the Ten Injunctions. Visakha explains to them as follows: " The indoor fire is not to be carried outside," means that a wife must say nothing about the faults of her father-in-law or her husband. " The outdoor fire is not to be carried inside," means that a wife must not tell her father-in-law or her husband anything ill she hears of them." Give only to him that gives," means that one should give only to those that return borrowed articles." Give not to him that gives not," means that one should not give to those that do not return borrowed articles." Give both to him that gives, and to him that gives not," means that when poor folk seeks assistance, one should give to them, whether or not they can repay. "Sit happily," means that a wife must not remain sitting when she sees her husband or his parents. "Eat happily," means that a wife must not eat until she has served her husband and his parents. "Sleep happily," means that a wife must not go to bed in advance of her husband and his parents. "Tend the fire," means that a wife must reverence her husband and his parents as a flame of fire. “Honor the household divinities," means that a wife must look upon her husband and his parents as her divinities. Thereupon Migara, finding no fault in Visakha, apologized to her.

Once cleared of all the charges, Visakha told Migara that now she intended to leave his house. Remorseful Migara pleaded Visakha to change her decision. Visakha consented to his request on a condition that she would be allowed to entertain the Buddha. Consequently, Migara invited Buddha for a meal. After the meal, Buddha taught the Dhamma and Migara and his wife became a sotapanna.

Buddha in Ayodhya

Once upon a time when Buddha was residing in the Jetavana monastery, Anathapindika paid a visit to Him. Anathapindika was a chief lay disciple of Buddha, and he used to seek guidance from Buddha on important personal matters. What brought him today to Buddha was his promise to his best friend Kalaka.

Anathapindika and Kalaka had studied together at gurukul. When they completed their education and time came to part, they decided to turn their bond of friendship into a bond of family. They promised, “When we would get married, the daughter will become daughter in law.”

Over time, Anathapindika became the wealthiest merchant of Savatthi; Kalaka made fortune in Saketa. Anathapindika had three daughters and one son from his marriage; Kalaka had one son. Both were living a happy married life. Where they differ was their faith. Anathapindika became a follower of Buddha whereas Kalaka remained a follower of Niganthas.

One day Kalaka visited Savatthi in connection with some business issues. Excited at his visit, Anathapindika asked his second daughter Cula Subhadda to take care of Kalaka. Cula obeyed her father and extended great hospitality. Kalaka was thoroughly impressed with the good manners of Cula. While returning to Saketa, Kalaka recalled the agreement he had made with Anathapindika at the time of parting from Gurukul. He thought that time had come to honor the promise. Thanking Anathapindika for making his stay at Savatthi comfortable, Kalaka told his decision to make Cula Subhadda as his daughter in law. The decision of Kalaka had unsettled Anathapindika as their faiths were different. As Cula Subhadda was also a sotapanna, Anathapindika found it difficult to send his daughter to a house where people worship naked Jain ascetic with wrong views.

Caught between friendship and faith, Anathapindika had come today to Jetavana. He sat quietly waiting for the indication of Master. As Buddha could view the sentient world with His Buddha-Eye, He understood the quandary of Anathapindika. Buddha was also aware that Kalaka could learn the Dhamma. Hence, He asked Anathapindika to go ahead with the marriage of Cula Subhadda with Kalaka’s son. Following the blessings of Buddha, the wife of Anathapindika also agreed for the marriage.

The marriage of Cula Subhadda was celebrated on a grand scale. After the ceremony, Anathapindika admonished his daughter on ten-duties of a faithful daughter in law, "My dear daughter, if you stay at home-in-law, a fire in the house should not be carried out and so on." He sent his daughter bearing lavish gifts, and eight followers as a counselor. He told them, "If there are errors on part of my daughter, you must notify her mistake."

When Cula Subhada arrived in Saketa, a grand celebration was organized. She was greeted warmly by the family members. In her honor alms were offered to the naked ascetic. Kalaka requested Cula Subhada, "Kindly pay respect to the hermits of us." However, Cula’s modesty was preventing her to go to the naked ascetic. She requested to be excused. Taking it as disrespect to his sages, Kalaka ordered in anger, "Throw her out of this house!" However, the accompanying advisers of Cula Subhada immediately intervened and pacified Kalaka explaining the problem. Kalaka’s wife then called Culla Subhadda and asked, "How can the behavior of Bhikkhumu, who you adore so high? What they see and how they exercise them? Please answer my question." In answering the question of mother-in-law, Culla Subhadda explained about the glory and greatness of the Buddha and his teachings as follows:

"Quiet greeting them,

 calm their minds,

 quiet steps they walk,

 calm their establishment

 they looked down;

 little they say.

 That's my monks.

Their deeds are clean,

 Greeting they are clean,

 their minds clean,

 That's my monks.

Not stained pearly,

 Pure inside and outside

 is full of good qualities,

 That's my monks.

A happy world with advantages and

 sorrow for the loss.

 But they were not affected by

 both; advantages and disadvantages.

 That's my monks.

The world-famous glad and

 sad because it is not well known.

 But they were not affected by

 both; famous or not famous.

 That's my monks.

World excited because of praise and

 sad because of reproach.

 But they did not react

 to both; praise and reproach.

 That's my monks.

A happy world for pleasure and

 sorrow for the suffering.

 But they did not turn

 to the pleasures and pains.

 That's my monks ".

Listening to these words of Cula Subhadda, her mother-in-law asked, "Is it possible for us to meet with the monks of you?"

 "Of course it is," said Cula Subhadda.

 "In that case, please invite them tomorrow for a meal so that we can meet them," said mother-in-law.

 "Sure my mother," replied Cula Subhadda.

Cula Subhadda then went to her room and made an earnest wish. Overlooking the Jetavana monastery, she scattered eight handfuls of jasmine flowers from her balcony into the air, saying respectfully, "Your honor I invite Bhikkhu Sangha led by the Buddha tomorrow morning. Hopefully, the Master knows my petition through these flowers." The flowers flew to Savatthi on their own and arranged themselves in a canopy over Buddha’s head as he preached to the fourfold assembly.

Meanwhile, back in Savatthi, after listening to the Dhamma, Anathapindika also invited the Buddha to be his guest on the following day. The Buddha replied, "Brother, I have received an invitation for tomorrow."

 "But your honor," replied Anathapindika, "No one has come here before me."

The Master said: "I have received an invitation from your daughter Cula Subhadda."

 "But, sir, is not Culla Subhadda in Saket far from Savatthi?"

 To this, Buddha uttered the following verse:

"Even from a distance,

 the better will be seen shining

 like the peaks of Himalayas.

 But although close,

 bad people will not be visible,

 Like a dart is released at night. "

When Sakka, king of the gods realized that the Master has accepted the invitation of Cula Subhadda, he requested Vessavana (Vissakamma) to provide five hundred gabled chambers for Buddha and his Brethren to travel by air to Saketa. The next morning, Buddha chose five hundred Arhats and traveled by air in the gabled chambers to Saketa.

When Buddha approached with all his pomp and grandeur, Kalaka and his family members were mesmerized. Cula Subhada took Buddha inside the house and offered meals to all the Brethren. After the meal, Buddha taught the Dhamma and Kalaka became a sotapanna. He donated his park Kalakarama to Buddha and built a vihara thereafter removing, by force, the Niganthas, who were in possession. Later, eighty-four thousand living beings also achieved an understanding of Dhamma. As a mark of favor towards Subhadda, the Buddha requested Anuruddha to stay behind at Saketa. The Buddha then returned to Savatthi.