Anula Tissa Theri's
Ordination and Arahantship
Significance
The journey of Sanghamitta Theri to Sri Lanka was instigated by the request of an important woman then known as Queen Anula Devi. She had heard the teachings of the Buddha, and had Woken up - reaching the second stage of the path. Because of this realization, and her aspiration to then practice as a Bhikkhuni, Sanghamitta Theri made the journey to Sri Lanka to teach and ordain her.
Sanghamitta Theri arrived, and ordained Anula Tissa Theri, along with 1000 other women of her assembly. And, the old Sri Lankan Pali-text chronicles tell us, all of them woke up - becoming Arahants.
Date
That ordination, and their complete Awakening, are commemorated on the lunar calendar on the Pussa-māsaṁ Amāvasī Uposatha - which is the new moon following the December full moon.
Video Resources
-
New Year's Eve Program "Ringing in the New Year with the Arahants" (December 31, 2024).
-
Included a short slide presentation on Anula Tissa Theri's story and its significance: PDF of slides from that presentation
-
-
"Renascence of the Anulā Cetiya Pabbata Vihāra Complex" NIIBS 2024 Documentary | English Captions. Short Sri Lankan documentary, with English subtitles, about Anula Tissa Theri's stupa - A tangible archaeological record of honoring this Arahant Bhikkhuni.