Sanghamitta (Sanghamitra), the daughter of King Ashoka and his Buddhist Queen Devi, traveled to Sri Lanka 2000 years ago with a group of nuns to establish the nun-lineage of Bhikkhunis. She had a twin brother, Mahinda, who also entered the order of Buddhist monks.

Sanghamitta brought a branch of the Holy Bodhi Tree, the tree under which Shakyamuni realized enlightenment, to Sri Lanka, and planted it there for the Royal Sri Lankan Court, whose female members requested to be ordained as Bhikkhunis. That Bodhi sapling grew into a massive tree, which is the oldest dated tree in Sri Lanka. Festooned with prayers, the tree, along with the Dharma, is the living symbol of Venerable Bikkhuni Sanghamitta's gift to women.

In the Sri Lankan Theravadan Buddhist practice, only a woman can ordain another woman, so Sanghamitta is the Mother of all Sri Lankan Bukkihunis!

Sanghamitta's day of honor is the Winter Solstice,

which has just, at this hour, officially begun.

Some celebrate Sanghamitta Day on the first full moon of December.

May your practice be bright, energetic and compassionate, for both yourself and others.

May you live the Dharma.

May you Awaken!