Monestaries

        Vaishali town was the capital of the Vrijian confederacy, one of the world's earliest. Here, a monkey is said to have offered the Buddha some wild honey on a leaf, but after this act of generosity, was killed falling from his tree.  

        Many of the women from Kapilavastu's palace had decided to follow the one who had once been their husband before he became enlightened.  At the request of his step-mother the first Buddhist monastery for women was established here.  A rich woman donated the land which came with a mango grove. 

        Tradition tells how the Buddha did not think that the time was right for the establishment of a women's order of bhikshunis, but he agreed on condition that they take 8 special vows that would maintain their lower status to the bhikshus (Male Monks).  

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This site was created by Dave Sexton at the NEH Summer Institute "Literatures, Religions, and Arts of the Himalayan Region," held at the College of the Holy Cross, Summer 2011