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Vaidehi

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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Vaidehi
韋提希 (Skt; Pali Vedehi; Jpn Idaike) The Queen of King Bimbisara of Magadha, India. It was in response to her entreaties that Buddha Shakyamuni preached the Meditation Sutra, which teaches a series of sixteen visualizations (of Amitabha Buddha, the Pure Land ...) leading to rebirth. in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

    The consort of Bimbisara, king of Magadha in ancient India, and the mother of Ajatashatru. She is said to have been the sister of King Prasenajit of Kosala. When Ajatashatru killed his father Bimbisara to usurp the throne, he also attempted to kill his mother, Vaidehi. His ministers admonished him against this evil act, and she escaped death. According to the Buddha Infinite Life Sutra, one of the principal texts of the Pure Land ( Jodo) school, Ajatashatru imprisoned his father, King Bimbisara, and attempted to starve him to death. Vaidehi secretly covered her body with a mixture of honey and flour, and went regularly to visit the king in prison, enabling him to nourish himself and survive. When Ajatashatru discovered this, he was enraged and attempted to kill his mother, but was restrained by his ministers Jivaka and Chandraprabha. Instead, Ajatashatru had her confined to the palace. She faced Eagle Peak where Shakyamuni Buddha was preaching and prayed to him. Out of pity for her, the Buddha interrupted his preaching and appeared in her chamber with Ananda and Maudgalyayana. At her request, he instructed her how to reach the Pure Land of Amida Buddha, or the Buddha Infinite Life.

Source

www.sgilibrary.org