The Grief of Yasodhara - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Yasodhara was the daughter of King Suppabuddha and Pamitā, sister of the Buddha's father, King Suddhodana.She was born on same day in the month of "Vaishaka" as Prince Siddaratha. Her father was a Koliya chief and her mother came from a Shakya family. The Shakya and the Koliya were branches of the Ādicca or Ikśvāku clan of the solar dynasty. There were no other families considered equal to them in the region and therefore members of these two royal families married only among themselves.

She was wedded to her cousin, the Shakya prince Siddhartha, in his 16th year when she was also 16 years of age. At the age of 29, she gave birth to their only child, a boy named Rāhula. On the day of his birth, the Prince left the palace. Yasodharā was devastated and overcome with grief. Hearing that her husband was leading a holy life, she emulated him by removing her jewellery, wearing a plain yellow robe and eating only one meal a day. Although relatives sent her messages to say that they would maintain her, she did not take up those offers. Several princes sought her hand but she rejected the proposals. Throughout his six-year absence, Princess Yasodharā followed the news of his actions closely.

When the Buddha visited Kapilavatthu after enlightenment, Yasodharā did not go to see her former husband but ask Rahula to go to Buddha to seek inheritance. For herself, she thought: "Surely if I have gained any virtue at all the Lord will come to my presence." In order to fulfill her wish Buddha came into her presence and admired her patience and sacrifice helped him to fulfill his wishes not in this birth but also in previous birth.

Some time after her son Rāhula became a novice monk, Yasodharā also entered the Order of Monks and Nuns and within time attained Arahantship. She was ordained as Bhikkhuni included among the five hundred ladies following Mahapajapati Gotami to establish Bhikkhuni Order. She died at 78, two years before Buddha's Parinibbāna.

Princess Yasodhara was the daughter of King Suppabuddha and Queen Pamita. Pamita was the sister of Buddha's father, King Suddhodana. Thus Yasodhara was the Buddha's cousin and later she was married to him.

Yasodhara was of same age as Prince Siddhartha. They were married when they were both sixteen years old. At the age of twenty-nine Yasodhara gave birth to their only son, Rahula. When Rahula was born, on the same day Prince Siddhartha left the palace in search of enlightenment. When Yasodhara knew that Siddhartha has left the palace, the palace, which was once the place of luxury, comfort and happiness to her, suddenly became like a dark cell to her. She was devastated and was full of grief. Her only comfort was her newborn son.

When Yasodhara came to know that her husband was leading a holy life, she simulated him by removing her jewelry and abandoning the royal dress and meal she wore only a plain yellow robe and took meal once in a day.

Her relatives sent her messages that they would maintain her, but she did not take those offers. Several princes wanted to marry him but she declined all the proposals. Princess Siddhartha struggled for six years to attain enlightenment. Princess Yasodhara closely followed the news about his actions and performed likewise.

When Buddha came to Kapilavastu, Yasodhara did not go to visit him. She thought if she had gained any virtue Lord Buddha would definitely come to visit her. One day after the meal Buddha came to Yasodhara's chamber with his two disciples and sat on the seat prepared for him. When Yasodhara heard about this, she hurriedly came to the chamber and placed her head on the feet of Buddha and clasped his ankles. Thus she showed her reverence, affection and respect to him.

When Yasodhara's son Rahula became a novice monk, Yasodhara also entered the order of nuns. She became Arahant very quickly. Amongst the female disciples of Buddha, she was chief among those who attained great supernormal powers. Yasodhara died two years ago of the Parinirvana of Lord Buddha at the age of seventy-eight. 

According to the legends in Buddha's life, Yasodhara met Siddhartha for the first time in her previous life. Then there was a Brahmin named as Sumedha, who identified current Buddha Dipankara as the future Buddha. He was waiting in the city of Paduma for Dipankara and tried to buy flowers for him. But Sumedha came to know that king had bought all the flowers to offer to Dipankara. Then Sumedha saw a girl named Sumidha approached to him with eight lotuses in her hand. Sumedha wanted to buy one flower from her but Sumidha recognized his potential and gave him five flowers against the promise that in the next birth they would be the husband and wife.