Who was the first woman to be admitted into the Buddhist Sangha?

Mahaprajapati Gautami, the Buddha's foster mother, who led a group of 500 women to Vaishali to request ordination.

Sociology of early Buddhism

UPSC Archival Analysis

Gautama Buddha allowed women to enter the Sangha as Bhikshunis at Vaishali. This decision was made after the persuasion of his disciple Ananda.

Exam Year

2010

Evidence Source

ID: HIS_PHI_2010_59 Ref: Chapter 4: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings