YASODHARâ

According to tradition, Siddhattha Gotama's wife was named Yasodharà, although this is mentioned nowhere in the Tipiñaka. There his wife is only ever referred to as Ràhulamàtà, `Ràhula's mother'. In the earliest reference to Prince Siddhattha's wife, she is called Bhaddakaccànà, which was probably her real name (Bv.26,15). In the commentary she is called Bimbaadevii or sometimes Bimbaasundarii (Ja.II,392; IV,478). Yasodharà is an honorific meaning `fame-bearer', and probably only in later centuries was thought of as a name. Other than this, there is almost no information about Siddhattha's wife, although many legends later grew up around her. See Veils and Veiling