30 Facts About Visakha

Visakha, known as Migaramata, was a wealthy aristocratic woman who lived during the time of Gautama Buddha.

Visakha is considered to have been the chief female patron of the Buddha.

Visakha founded the temple Migaramatupasada in Savatthi, considered one of the two most important temples in the time of the historic Buddha, the other being Jetavana Monastery.

Visakha was born into a prominent and wealthy family in what was then the kingdom of Magadha.

Visakha met the Buddha at the age of seven when he was visiting her hometown and attained sotapanna, a stage of enlightenment, after hearing him preach.

Visakha married her husband Purnavardhana when she was sixteen and then moved to Savatthi to live with his family.

Visakha famously converted her father-in-law, a wealthy treasurer named Migara, to Buddhism, giving her the nickname Migaramata, literally "Migara's mother".

Visakha is known as the female lay disciple of the Buddha who was foremost in generosity.

Visakha was the Buddha's greatest patron and benefactor along with her male counterpart, Anathapindika.

Visakha was born into a wealthy family, in the city of Bhaddiya in Anga, which at the time was part of the kingdom of Magadha.

Visakha's father was named Dhananjaya, and her mother was named Sumana.

Visakha met Gautama Buddha at the age of seven, when he was visiting her home town.

Visakha moved later in life when King Pasenadi of Kosala heard about this family of special merit.

When Visakha was sixteen, a wealthy treasurer named Migara wished to find a wife for his son, Punnavaddhana.

When it began to rain at the festival, everybody ran for cover except for Visakha, who walked to cover slowly.

However, Visakha explained to them that she did not run because it was ungraceful for kings, royal elephants, monks, and women to run.

Visakha explained that she did not want to injure herself, as wet clothes can be fixed, but if a woman of marriageable age breaks a limb she couldn't marry and would be a problem for her parents.

Arbitrators were called in but Visakha explained that by her father-in-law eating food and not making merit for the future, he was using up past merit and not making any more, so it was like he was eating stale food.

Visakha later convinced Migara to see the Buddha, which led to him reaching sotapanna, a stage of enlightenment.

Migara was so grateful for Visakha helping him reach a stage of enlightenment he declared her his spiritual mother, earning her the nickname Migaramata, or "Migara's mother".

Visakha had twenty children, ten sons and ten daughters, with each of her children having similarly large numbers of children themselves.

Visakha regularly visited the Buddha in the afternoon for Dhamma sermons whenever he was in Savatthi, and fed large numbers of monks at her house daily.

When leaving the house, Visakha would assign one of her granddaughters to give alms in her place.

Visakha contrasted this with people who have wealth but don't give, who he called unwise and likened to flower garland makers who have many flowers but do not have the skills to make good flower garlands.

Visakha often wore her finest clothes and perfume to monasteries, although she later developed an insight into the values of asceticism and chose to give up her fine attire.

One day Visakha lost some jewelry which was found by Ananda, who put it away for her.

Visakha chose Maha Moggallana, the Buddha's disciple foremost in psychic powers, to stay with her and oversee the construction.

Visakha is considered to be one of the most prominent female lay figures in the Buddha's time and her role in the Buddhist scriptures is often cited in determining the attitudes toward women in early Buddhism.

Dewaraja points to the fact that Visakha often wore her best clothes to monasteries as indicating a more liberal attitude toward women in early Buddhism.

Visakha was never chastised for her clothes and it was not until she personally developed an insight into non-attachment that she chose to give up the fine clothes on her own.