Mahaprajapati

Mahaprajapati was the Buddha’s aunt. Queen Maya passed away seven days after giving birth to Prince Siddhartha, so the prince was raised by Mahaprajapati. She later renounced and became the first bhiksuni in the Sangha. A humble and diligent person, she led other bhiksunis with enthusiasm and friendliness which gained their full respect and deference. Firmly upholding the teachings, she was the one who conferred the precepts for full ordination on new bhiksunis. After Mahaprajapati entered nirvana, the Buddha carried her coffin to repay his gratitude for having nurtured him.