Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.4057

v2.c36.4057

Suppavāsā Koliyadhītā.—Mother of Sivali. Before he was born, she lay for seven days in labour suffering great pain, and it was not till the Buddha blessed her that she was able to bring forth the child.¹ It is said that the child was seven years in her womb, and the reason for this is given in the Asātarūpa Jātaka (q.v.).² Suppavāsā was the daughter of the rājā of Koliya.³ Her husband was the Licchavi Mahāli,⁴ and she lived in the Koliyan village of Sajjanela, where the Buddha visited her and preached to her on the efficacy of giving food.⁵ She was described by the Buddha as foremost among those who gave excellent alms (aggam paṇitadāyikānam),⁶ an eminence which she had earnestly resolved to attain in the time of Padumuttara Buddha.⁷