07/03/2026
The Story of Nandamata (Mother of Nanda)
Velukanthaki Nandamata was a laywoman follower of the Gautama Buddha during his time, who greatly supported the Buddha’s dispensation and attained the stage of Non-Returner (Anāgāmi). Her name was Nanda, and she had one son, which is why she became known as Nandamata. Since she lived in the village of Velukanthaki, she later became famous as ‘Velukanthaki Nandamata’.
Nandamata had the daily habit of reciting the Parayana Dhamma. One night, she was reciting these teachings in a very sweet voice. At that time, Vaisravana, the king of the yakshas, was flying through the sky from the north to the south for some purpose. Hearing the sound of her recitation, he listened attentively.
As soon as Nandamata finished her recitation, Vaisravana, the divine king, exclaimed "Sadhu" (well done) three times. He said, “Sister, very good. You recited the Parayana Dhamma very well.”
When Nandamata looked around and asked, “Who are you, who speaks to me so?” she saw a divine being of great radiance.
“Who are you, venerable one?”
“Sister, I am Vaisravana, king of the yakshas.”
“Venerable King of the Devas, may the merit from my recitation of the Parayana Dhamma just now be a cushion for you!”
“Sister, so be it! Shakyamuni Buddha and the venerable Sangha are now dwelling at the Dakshina Mountain. Tomorrow, he will visit this Velukanthaki village. Please offer alms to the Buddha and his Sangha, and dedicate the merit to me. That will be your guest’s cushion to me,” said the deity, and then departed.
After hearing this, Nandamata prepared everything needed for alms that night and, the next morning, prepared exquisite food. That morning, the venerable monks arrived in Velukanthaki village. She called a man and said,
“Go and invite the Buddha and the chief monks, who are now residing at the monastery in our village, to my home for alms. Please invite them on my behalf.” The man did as instructed and brought the monks to her home.
She offered the prepared alms. After the offering, Nandamata approached the venerable Sariputta, paid homage, and sat respectfully. Venerable Sariputta asked,
“Nandamata, how did you know that the monks would come to Velukanthaki? Who informed you?”
“Venerable Sariputta, last night, while I was reciting the Parayana Dhamma, Vaisravana, the divine king, who was passing through the sky, heard my recitation and, pleased, appeared before me and rejoiced in my merit. He told me that the Buddha and the Sangha would visit Velukanthaki village today and asked me to offer alms and dedicate the merit to him. So, venerable sir, may any merit I have accumulated be shared with Vaisravana, king of the yakshas,” she said, transferring the merit.
Then, the venerable replied,
“Nandamata, this is truly wonderful and amazing. You have seen and spoken to Vaisravana, the mighty king known as Kuvera. This is indeed extraordinary.”
“Venerable sir, compared to some other events in my life, this is not so amazing. There are even greater wonders in my life,” she replied.
She continued, “Venerable sir, I had a beloved son named Nanda. The king, without any just cause, accused him of a crime, arrested him, and eventually had him executed in prison. Even at that moment, I felt no sorrow or resentment towards the king. My mind was not distressed or upset.”
Venerable Sariputta said, “Nandamata, that is indeed an amazing and wonderful quality.”
She said, “Venerable sir, there is an even greater wonder. My husband passed away and, in his next life, was not reborn in a heavenly, Brahma, or human realm, but as a lowly yaksha. I can see him before me, but I feel no sadness or regret about his fate. My mind does not cling or change because of this.”
“Nandamata, that too is a marvelous and extraordinary quality in your life,” said the venerable.
She continued, “Venerable sir, there is something even more impressive. I married at a very young age, and from the day I married, I never thought of another man, let alone acted upon such a thought.”
Venerable Sariputta said, “That too is a remarkable and wonderful quality.”
She replied, “Venerable sir, even that feels minor to me compared to other things. Since the day I became a follower of the Gautama Buddha, I have never knowingly broken a precept.”
“That too is an extraordinary quality,” said the venerable.
She said, “Venerable sir, even greater than that, I have attained the first jhana, free from sensual pleasures and unwholesome states, experiencing joy and happiness born of seclusion, and have abided in the second, third, and fourth jhanas, dwelling in equanimity, mindfulness, and clear awareness, feeling happiness in the body.”
“Nandamata, that is truly a wonderful and amazing quality in your life.”
She continued, “Venerable sir, even greater than that, as the Buddha has taught about the five lower fetters (personality view, doubt, attachment to rites and rituals, sensual desire, and ill will), I know by direct knowledge that all these have been abandoned in me.”
Venerable Sariputta said, “Nandamata, you have not just five but six amazing and wonderful qualities in your life.
The other is that you have seen and conversed with Vaisravana, the divine king. No one else can claim this. Thus, speaking with Vaisravana is another extraordinary quality.” With this, Sariputta further inspired her mind towards the Dhamma and returned to the monastery.
Acknowledgment:
This is an AI translation of the original post from another page posted in Sinhala. We are sharing it here as a form of Dhamma sharing.
