Uppalavanna
Uppalavannā (Chinese: 蓮華色比丘尼 or 優缽華色比丘尼)was considered to be amongst the two chief female disciples of the Buddha, the other being Khema.
She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and was known for her great beauty. Her name means "one with the hue of the blue lotus".
Family life and renunciation
She was the daughter of a businessman from Savatthi (Shravasti). She was named Uppalavanna because her complexion was that of a blue lotus. She was so beautiful that when she came of age, powerful and wealthy suitors sent messengers to her father asking for her hand. Not wanting to displease so many people, he suggested that she become a bhikkhuni. She agreed and became a nun. She quickly progressed in meditation and became an Arahant (fully liberated).
Life as a nun
Buddha declared her to be the foremost in supernormal powers among the nuns.
Samyutta Nikaya V.5, the Uppalavanna Sutta, is attributed to her:
Then the bhikkhuni Uppalavanna, having understood, "This is Mara the Evil One," replied to him in verses:
Though a hundred thousand rogues
Just like you might come here,
I stir not a hair, I feel no terror;
Even alone, Mara, I don't fear you.
I can make myself disappear
Or I can enter inside your belly.
I can stand between your eyebrows
Yet you won't catch a glimpse of me.
I am the master of my own mind,
The bases of power are well developed;
I am freed from every kind of bondage,
Therefore I don't fear you, friend.
Then Mara the Evil One, realizing, "The bhikkhuni Uppalavanna knows me," sad and disappointed, disappeared right there.
Bhikkhuni Uppalavanna Theri
Like the story of Khema Theri the First Chief Female Disciple, Uppalavanna was born in Savatthi to a prosperous banker and his wife. They named her "Uppalavanna" because the colour of her skin resembles the hue of the blue lotus flower. Upon her becoming of age, her father received many marriage proposals from suitors both rich and poor, from all over the land. He was at a loss of what to do and to choose a suitable husband to wed his only beautiful daughter. Not wishing to offend any suitors or their families, he continued to procrastinate. Finding no solution to the problem, he then called his daughter to him and explained his dilemma to her. He further asked her if she would be willing to forsake marriage and be ordained as a Bhikkhuni.
Uppalavanna was destined to achieve Arahantship in this life, so she readily agreed to renounce the world. One day it was her turn to sweep the Uposattha hall. She took a lamp there and set about doing her task. When she had finished her work, she sat down to meditate. Fixing her eyes on the lamp, she took the flame as an object for the fire kasina meditation. She kept up her vigil on this exercise until she attained all the jhanas and then went on to attain Arahantship.
With this attainment also came the profound knowledge of the Dhamma, the powers of intuition as well as the great psychic powers. Soon after, the Buddha appointed her His Second Chief Female Disciple, declaring her to be foremost in these powers, among the Bhikkhunis.
There were also some episodes in her life to promote a better understanding on the dangers of sensual desire. In this connection, she used to recite a verse whereby the mother and her daughter, who loved the same man, treated each other as rival enemies, vying for the love of that man. This composition of verses reminded people about the dangers of craving for sensual pleasures.
In another incident Uppalavanna was dwelling alone in the forest hut. The childhood infatuated cousin hid inside her hut and waited for her to return at dusk. He then raped her while she was sleeping and ran out of the forest to escape. His mortal sin however only allowed him just a few steps from the hut before he was swallowed up by a fierce flame that shot up from the bowels of the earth. He was wrapped up by the flame and sucked into Avici Hell.
Mara in a separate incident, tried to tempt and seduce Uppalavanna Theri but was thoroughly rebuked and sent packing back empty handed, dejected and disappointed. Arahant Uppalavanna Theri declared to Mara that since her mind was pure, having self-control, possessing the six higher knowledges and had abandoned all craving for sense pleasures, she could no longer be enticed by sensuality earthly or divine.
The Buddha said that if anyone were to look up to someone as an exemplar of holy life, they should regard Theri Khema and Theri Uppalavanna as such.
