Lady Visakha: A Pioneering Upasika in Buddhism : หน้า 40/207

Who was Lady Visakha? Visakha, a supreme Upasika [a Buddhist laywoman], was a very important person in Buddhism. She was responsible for the construction of Wat Buppharam, one of many ashrams, a center that helped spread Buddhism throughout India during the time of the Lord Buddha. The temple was built in the town of Savatthi, in the county of Kosol. An enormous fortune was spent to construct a two-level residence that contained 1,000 rooms for the Bhikkhus. Furthermore, she was also the first person who requested permission from Lord Buddha to offer robes to the Bhikkhus to use during the rainy season retreat. This offering became a tradition that Buddhist devotees maintain to this day. Visakha was born into a wealthy family in the county of Magadha, the largest county at that time. Her father was named Tanachai. Once, when his county was in an economic crisis, King Pasantikosol of Kosol made a personal request to King Pimpisarn of Magadha that Tanachai become the minister of finance for his county. King Pimpisarn consented and Tanachai moved from Magadha to Kosol, bringing his daughter with him. The Warm Hearted Family 79 The Mother of Great Kindness within the House