6. Princess Suppavāsā the Koliyan

Aspiration in the Past

The future Suppavāsā was reborn into a worthy family in the city of Haṁsavatī, during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. While she was listening to a discourse by the Buddha, she saw a certain female lay disciple being named by him as the foremost in offering superior articles. She thus had a strong desire to become such a disciple in the future. After making extraordinary offerings, she aspired to that distinction in front of the Buddha, who predicted that her aspiration would be fulfilled in her future existence.

Discipleship in Her Last Existence

The future Suppavāsā, after being reborn in either the Deva realm or human realm for 100,000 aeons, was reborn as a princess of the Sakyan clan, in the city of Koliya. She was named Suppavāsā. When she was of marriageable age, she was given in marriage to a Sakyan prince. As the housewife in the household of the prince, she had the occasion to listen to a discourse by the Buddha which resulted in her attaining Stream-entry. Later, she gave birth to a son, named Sīvali. ^{Details of the episode of the birth of Sīvali have been described in chapter 43:18.}

Foremost Title Achieved

At one time, Princess Suppavāsā, the mother of Sīvali, offered choicest food to the Buddha and his Saṅgha. After finishing the meal the Buddha taught a discourse in appreciation of the special offering, saying: “My female lay disciple Suppavāsā, in making this food offering, has in effect made five kinds of offering: life, good appearance, happiness, strength and intelligence.

Offering of life leads to longevity, either in the Deva realm or in the human realm. Offering of good appearance, happiness, strength and intelligence leads to the blessing of good appearance, happiness, strength and intelligence respectively either in the Deva realm or in the human realm.” This was the occasion that became the ground for the Buddha’s naming of Suppavāsā as a foremost female lay disciple.

On another occasion, when the Buddha was residing in the Jetavana monastery in Sāvatthī, and was naming distinguished female lay disciples, he declared:

Etad-aggaṁ bhikkhave mama sāvikānaṁ upāsikānaṁ
paṇīta-dāyikānaṁ yad-idaṁ Suppavāsā Koliya-dhītā.

Monastics, among my female lay disciples who make gifts of the choicest quality, Suppavāsā, the Koliyan Princess, is the foremost.