Sujata
Sujata offers Milk-Rice to the Buddha (art of Ayutthaya).
Personal
ReligionBuddhism
Known forOffering kheer, thus breaking the seven year-long fast of Gautama Buddha, opening the way to his enlightenment.
The fasting Buddha, receiving the gift of Sujata in the bottom relief (Gandhara, 2nd century CE).

Sujata, also Sujātā, was a farmer's wife, who is said to have fed Gautama Buddha a bowl of kheera, a milk-rice pudding, ending his six years of asceticism. Such was his emaciated appearance that she wrongly believed him to be a tree-spirit that had granted her wish of having a child. The gift provided him enough strength to cultivate the Middle Way, develop jhana, and attain Bodhi, thereafter becoming known as the Buddha.[1][2][3]

The village of Bakraur near Bodh Gaya is believed to be her home. The Sujata Stupa was dedicated to her there in the 2nd century BCE.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Prasoon, Shrikant (2007). Knowing Buddha : [life and teachings]. [Delhi]: Hindoology Books. ISBN 9788122309638.
  2. ↑ Planet, Lonely; Blasi, Abigail (2017). Lonely Planet India. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781787011991.
  3. ↑ Dwivedi, Sunita; Lama, Dalai (foreword) (2006). Buddhist heritage sites of India. New Delhi: Rupa & Co. ISBN 8129107384.
  4. ↑ Geary, David; Sayers, Matthew R.; Amar, Abhishek Singh (2012). Cross-disciplinary Perspectives on a Contested Buddhist Site: Bodh Gaya Jataka. Routledge. pp. 35–36. ISBN 9781136320675.
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