On March 1st, the full moon day of Māgha Pūjā in the Buddhist calendar, the sāmaṇerī ordination (Pabbajja) of Jitindriyā and Marg took place at Santi. This particular date was chosen for its great auspiciousness.

Māgha Pūjā day marks an event occurring at the Veḷuvana grove, near Rājagaha in northern India, ten months after the enlightenment of the Buddha. On that occasion, as recorded in the commentary to the Mahāsamayasutta (DN 20), four ‘marvelous events’ occurred:

1. 1,250 disciples gather spontaneously to see the Buddha that evening without previous arrangement;
2. All of them were Arahants, enlightened disciples;
3. All had been ordained by the Buddha himself, and therefore are his direct spiritual descendants;
4. It was the full-moon day of the third lunar month

On this occasion the Buddha expounded to these arahants the simple and essential message of his teaching, called the ‘Ovādapatimokha’: To do what is skilful and good, to refrain from doing that which is evil and unskilful, and to purify the mind.

As shared by Ayya Taathaloka during the ceremony, the full moon of March is also the day on which the female arahant, Mahāpajāpati, attained parinibbāna. The significance of all of this was not lost on the candidates who went forth inspired and uplifted by the ancient tradition and the venerable sangha into which they were re-entering.

As some of our supporters know, Jitindriyā was a Theravādin Buddhist nun for 17 years, having ordained with Ajahn Sumedho at Amāravati in the UK in 1988. She left the monastic life in 2004 but continued to teach meditation and Dhamma on invitation, and also trained and practised as a Buddhist psychotherapist for many years, having returned to Australia (her country of birth) to live in 2008.

Marg was one of the first anagarikās at Dhammasāra nun’s monastery in Western Australia in 2002, having ordained with Ajahn Vayāma during the early years when Ayya Nirodha was a young samaneri there! She later moved to Amarāvati and Cittaviveka monasteries in the UK and trained for another year.

During this sāmaṇerī ordination at Santi, Ayya Nirodha Bhikkhuni gracefully acted as Preceptor and Acarini for Marg and Jitindriya. We were also fortunate to have Ayya Taathaloka Bhikkhuni with us for the occasion, who made a great effort to be present having just flown in from Sri Lanka in the early hours that morning. Her support, efforts and blessings in being here on the day were very much appreciated. We also had a small group of lay supporters who were able to be present and offered much appreciated support.

Jitindriyā will keep her original ordination name, Jitindriyā, meaning: ‘One who has mastered the senses’. Marg now has the Pali name Jayasāra, meaning: ‘Excellent Victory’. Both new sāmaṇerīs are very grateful for the opportunity to go forth at Santi Monastery, to practice again as samanas (robed renunciates), and to help support the Bhikkhuni community establishing here.