Sanghamitra (3rd Century BC) was the pious daughter of the great emperor Ashoka. She and her brother were very much interested in the teachings of Buddha, and hence both of them went to Sri Lanka and spread the significance of Buddha. Though Ashoka was not interested to send his daughter to abroad, however, due to the compulsion and due to her interest in Buddhism, he agreed. Ma Sanghamitra was the key person to establish Buddhist Monasteries in Sri Lanka, and still now she is worshipped by the Sri Lankan Buddhists, by considering her to be the foremost Buddhist Monk.
Ma Sanghamitra also formed temples of Buddha in Burma, China and Thailand, and she also planted a Bodhi tree, and the holy tree still exists and it is being worshipped by the Theravada sect of Buddhists in Sri Lanka.
Sanghamitra was born in the present day Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. She was married at her young age, had a son, and he also went to Sri Lanka to preach and teach Buddhism. Ma Sanghamitra died at the age of 79 in Anuradhapura at Sri Lanka. The famous UnduvapaPoya festival is observed in Sri Lanka on the Full Moon of December in order to honour the holy Mother, Ma Sanghamitra, and also to remember her on that auspicious festival day.
Some of the preaching of Ma Sanghamitra is as follows:-
1. Please take shelter in the holy feet of Buddha.
2. Follow the principles of Dhamma.
3. Follow the teachings of Buddha.
4. Adopt strict non-violence in your life.
5. Remove the bad habits like lust, anger and greed in your life.
6. In order to become a Buddhist Monk, never and ever think about your marriage, control your senses, and keep meditating on Lord Buddha.
7. Accept Lord Buddha as your spiritual Guru, and worship him whole heartedly.
8. Always act honestly, kindly and generously to others.
9. Lord Buddha is the true saviour, who has lived a very simple and a disciplined life, and we cannot compare him with anyone.
“OM”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR