IN placing this short life of the Buddhist Princess Yashodara before the public I must plead for leniency for any shortcomings. My one aim in the book has been to form a vivid word picture of a Princess born in the purple of royalty and wedded to the heir of a great kingdom who became a saint. Never has there been such another Maharani Bhikshuni. Through the centuries which have passed her name has been handed down and we find a sweet and living reality in her memory. The Princess Yashodara first accepted the Prince Sidharta as her heart's love and lord. Later, when he left her to found a new religion, she suffered all that a loving and devoted wife can suffer. Later again she realized the greatness of his work, and elected to follow him as his disciple. Idolatry then flourished in India, Buddhism was in the throes of its birth. The new cult was not easy to practice. It demanded self-abnegation, suffering and penance. Yet Princess Yashodara, foreseeing its inner meaning, accepted the Lord Buddha as her saviour and became his most ardent follower. Her great love as wife became purified and perfected by the teachings and practice of her husband's religion, and Yashodara shines through the ages a perfect wife, mother, queen and saint.
IN placing this short life of the Buddhist Princess Yashodara before the public I must plead for leniency for any shortcomings. My one aim in the book has been to form a vivid word picture of a Princess born in the purple of royalty and wedded to the heir of a great kingdom who became a saint. Never has there been such another Maharani Bhikshuni. Through the centuries which have passed her name has been handed down and we find a sweet and living reality in her memory. The Princess Yashodara first accepted the Prince Sidharta as her heart's love and lord. Later, when he left her to found a new religion, she suffered all that a loving and devoted wife can suffer. Later again she realized the greatness of his work, and elected to follow him as his disciple. Idolatry then flourished in India, Buddhism was in the throes of its birth. The new cult was not easy to practice. It demanded self-abnegation, suffering and penance. Yet Princess Yashodara, foreseeing its inner meaning, accepted the Lord Buddha as her saviour and became his most ardent follower. Her great love as wife became purified and perfected by the teachings and practice of her husband's religion, and Yashodara shines through the ages a perfect wife, mother, queen and saint.
