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Rūpasārī

The mother of Sāriputta, who was called after her, his personal name being Upatissa. (SNA.i.326; DhA.i.73, etc; in Sanskrit texts (e.g., Dvy.395) Sāriputta is called Sāradvatīputra).

Her husband was the brahmin Vaṅganta (DhA.ii.84), and she became the mother of seven children, all of whom became Arahants — Sāriputta, Upasena, Mahā-Cunda, Revata Khadiravaniya, Cālā, Upacālā, and Sīsūpacālā (DhA.ii.188; SA.iii.172).

Both she and her husband were unbelievers, and she was very sad when, one after another, her children, giving up wealth worth eight hundred million, joined the Order. She wished to keep at least the youngest of the boys, Revata, for herself, and had him married at the age of seven, but her plot miscarried (See Revata). This embittered her against the monks, and, though she gave them alms when they came to the house, she blamed them for having enticed her children away.

Once when Sāriputta visited her with five hundred monks, among whom was Rāhula, she invited them in and gave them food, but did not fail to abuse her son, calling him “eater of leavings” (ucchiṭṭhakhādaka) (DhA.iv.164 f). She outlived Sāriputta, who visited her just before his death at Nālakagāma in the house where he was born. There she provided lodging for him and his five hundred companions. Sāriputta fell ill of a violent attack of dysentery on the night of his arrival, and she saw various gods, including even Mahā Brahmā, come to wait on him. Learning their identity from Mahā-Cunda, she was amazed and went to see Sāriputta to have Mahā Cunda’s words confirmed. Sāriputta told her how Mahā Brahmā was a follower of the Buddha and talked to her about the marvellous virtues of his teacher. At the end of his talk, she became a Stream-winner. Sāriputta died the next day at dawn, and she made elaborate arrangements for his cremation (SA.iii.172 ff; for details see Sāriputta).

She seems to have also been called Surūpasārī. e.g., ThigA.162.