The Buddha’s successful ministry lasted 45 years. From His 35th year, the date of His Enlightenment, till His death in His 80th year, He served humanity both by example and precept, with no personal motive. Throughout the year He wandered from  place to  place,  teaching the Dhamma to the people and liberating them from the bonds of Sansara. During the Rainy Season (Vassana-July to November) He lived in retirement, as was customary with all ascetics, owing to the incessant rains.
 

The First Twenty Years

According to the Buddhavamsa commentary, His first twenty years were spent as follows:-

1st Year - Benares.

After preaching the Dhammacakka Sutta on the Asalha full-moon day, He spent the first Vassana (Retreat)  in  the  Deer  Park  at  Isipatana,  near Benares. Here there was no special building for Him to reside.

2nd, 3rd and 4th Years - Rajagaha.

When the Buddha visited  King  Bimbisara,  he offered  his  Bamboo  Grove             (Veluvana)  to  the Buddha and His disciples. This was an ideal solitary place for monks as it was neither too far nor too close to the city. Three rainy seasons were spent in this quiet grove.

5th Year - Vesali.

During this year whilst He was residing in the Pinnacled-Hall at Mahavana near Vesali, He heard of the impending death of King Suddhodana and repairing  to  his  death-chamber  preached  the Dhamma to him. Immediately after he attained Arahantship, for seven days he enjoyed the bliss of Emancipation and passed away.
 

The Order of Nuns

Bhikkhuni Sasana was founded in the 5th Vassana year of the Buddha. After the death of King Suddhodana, Maha Pajapati Gotami, desirous of joining the Order, approached the Buddha who was then residing at Kapilavatthu and begged permission for women to be admitted into the Order. For several reasons the Buddha refused and returned to Vesali.

But Maha Pajapati Gotami, without being discouraged, cut off her hair and wearing yellow garments went on foot to Vesali, accompanied by many other  Sakyan  ladies, experiencing  many a  hardship.  Weeping they stood outside the porch of the Pinnacled Hall in Mahavana where the Buddha was residing. TheVenerable Ananda, moved by the pathetic sight, appealed to the Buddha on their behalf. Again He refused thrice but was finally persuaded by the entreaties of the Venerable Ananda on condition that Maha Pajapati Gotami would agree to observe the following eight Chief Rules:-

1. A nun, even of a hundred years’ standing by Upasampada, should salute a Bhikkhu and rise before him, though he had received the Higher Ordination that very day. ‘

2. A nun should not spend a Retreat in a place where there is no Bhikkhu.

3. Every fortnight a nun should ask from the Order of monks the time of Uposatha meeting and when a Bhikkhu would come to admonish them.

4. The  Pavarana  ceremony  after  the  Retreat should be held by a nun in the presence of the Order of both Bhikkhus and Bhikkunis.

5. Major offences of a nun should be dealt with by the Order of both Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis.

6. A female novice (Sikkhamana) who remains on probation for two years should receive the Higher Ordination from the Order of both Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis.

7. A nun should on no account rebuke or abuse a Bhikkhu.

8. Nuns should not give admonition to Bhikkhus, but Bhikkhus should admonish nuns.

Pajapati Gotami gladly agreed to abide by these eight Chief Rules. By accepting them she automatically received the Lesser and Higher Ordination. The other Sakyan ladies also received their Lesser and Higher Ordination. All of them later attained Arahantship. Yasodhara and Nanda, the daughters of Pajapati Gotami,  were  also admitted into the Order.

In the Order of Nuns Khema and Uppalavanna were appointed the two chief Female Disciples, as were Sariputta and Moggallana in the Order of Monks.

6th Year - Mankula Hill.

Just as He performed the “Twin Wonder” (Yamaka Parihariya) to overcome the pride of His relatives at Kapilavatthu, here too He did the same a second time to convert others.

7th Year- Tavatimsa Heaven.

A few days after the birth of the Bodhisatta his mother Queen Maha Maya died and was born as a Deva in the Tavatimsa Heaven. In this 7th year during the rainy three months, He preached the Abhidhamma to the Devas of this Celestial Plane, headed by His mother Deva. Daily He came to earth and gave a summary of His sermon to the Venerable Sariputta, who in turn expounded the same doctrine in detail to his disciples. What is embodied in the present Abhidhamma Pitaka is supposed to be this detailed exposition of the Dhamma by Him.

It is stated that on hearing these philosophical discourses the mother Deva attained the First Stage of Sainthood.

8th Year - Bhesakala Forest.

Near Sumsumara Rock, in the Bhagga District.

9th Year - Kosambi.

It was in this year that Magandiya harboured a grudge against the Buddha for what He uttered when her father proposed to give her in marriage to Him.

l0th Year - Parileyyaka Forest.

Owing to some unfortunate dispute that could not be settled between two parties of Bhikkhus, the Buddha retired to this forest for the Retreat. It was on this occasion, according to the story, that an elephant and a monkey ministered to His needs.

11th Year - Ekanala, Brahmin village.

The interesting Kasibharadvaja Sutta was delivered here.

l2th Year - Veranja.

During this period the Buddha and His disciples were compelled to live on food used for horses.  The stay at Veranja forms the introduction to the Vinaya.

l3th Year - Caliya Rock.

l4th Year - Jetavana Monastery, Savatthi.

The Venerable Rahula received his Higher Ordination at this time on the completion of his 20th year.

l5th Year - Kapilavatthu.

The tragic death of King Suppabuddha, the father of Princess Yasodhara, occurred in this year. It should be noted that the Buddha spent only one Retreat in his birthplace.

l6th Year - City of Alavaka.

The conversion of Alavaka, the demon, who feasted on human flesh, took  place on this occasion.

l7th Year - Rajagaha.

l8th Year- Caliya Rock.

l9th and 20th Year - Rajagaha
 

Angulimala

It was in the 20th year that the Buddha converted the notorious murderer Angulimala. Ahimsaka - Innocent - was his original name. He belonged to a distinguished family, and was the most illustrious and favourite pupil  of his  renowned teacher.

Unfortunately his associates grew jealous of him, concocted a false story, and succeeded in poisoning the teacher against him. The enraged teacher, without any investigation, contrived to put an end to his life by ordering him to fetch a thousand fingers as a present. In obedience to the teacher, though with great reluctance, he repaired to the forest and started killing people to collect fingers for the necessary offering. Later he wore a garland of these fingers to ascertain the number - hence the name Angulimala.

When he had collected 999 fingers, so the book state and was ready to complete the number, the Buddha appeared on the scene. Angulimala made a vain attempt to kill the Buddha, but was eventually converted to the noble Dhamma and was admitted into the Order. One day as he went on his alms-round he saw a woman in travail. Moved by compassion he reported this pathetic case to the Buddha who then taught the Angulimala Paritta which runs as follows:-

“Sister, since I was born in the Ariyan clan, I know not that I consciously destroyed the life of any living being.”

“By this truth may you be whole, and may your child be whole!”

He studied this Paritta, and going to the presence of the suffering sister sat on a seat separated from her by a screen, and made this Act of Truth. Instantly she was delivered of the child with great ease. The efficacy of this Paritta persists.  to this day.

In due course Venerable Angulimala attained Arahantship.

The remaining twenty-five years were spent in Savatthi at the Jetavana Monastery, built by Anathapindika, the millionaire, and at Pubbarama, built by Visakha,  the chief benefactress of the Buddha.
 

Anathapindika

Anathapindika, the Feeder of the Helpless, was a millionaire in Savatthi. His family name was Sudatta. In the course of a visit to his brother-in-law in Rajagaha, to his indescribable joy, he heard that the Buddha was living in a forest close by.

He was so eager to meet the Buddha that he rose up very early and proceeded to the spot, passing through a lonely cemetery. It seems that his faith in the Buddha was so intense that a light emanated from his body. With the aid of this light and the encouragement given to him by an invisible being in the cemetery, he reached Sitavana where the Buddha was walking up and down anticipating his visit.  The Buddha summoned him to his presence, addressing him by his family name. He heard the Dhamma from the Buddha and became a Sotapanna.

Returning to Savatthi he bought the park belonging to Prince Jeta, covering, so the story goes, the whole site with gold coins, and erected the famous Jetavana Monastery at great cost. Here the Buddha spent nineteen rainy seasons. This monastery, where the Buddha spent the major part ot His life, was the scene of many of His sermons.

Several discourses, which are of particular interest to laymen, were delivered to him. Owing to his unparalleled generosity he was regarded as the chief lay supporter of the Buddha.  It was on his suggestion that the Ananda Bodhi Tree, which stands to this day, was planted at the entrance to the monastery.

His wife was Punnalakkhana. He had three good daughters - Maha Subhadda, Cula Subhadda, and Sumana. The elder had attained Sotapanna, whilst the youngest was a Sakadagami. His only son Kala, who was at first irreligious, later attained Sotapanna, skillfully guided by his father.  Anathapindika breathed his last after hearing a profound discourse from the Venerable Sariputta.

After death he was reborn in the Tusita Heaven.  Books state that on the very day he was reborn as a Deva he visited the Buddha at night, and extolling the virtues of the Venerable Sariputta, expressed his pleasure on seeing the Buddha and His disciples residing in his Monastery.
 

Visakha

Visakha was the devout daughter of Dhananjaya, a millionaire. Her mother was Sumana, and her beloved grandfather was Mendaka.

The Buddha happened to visit her birthplace when she was only seven years old. Though young in age, she was comparatively advanced in Samsara. As such when she heard the Dhamma from the Buddha for the first time she became a Sotapanna.

Books state that even in her prime she possessed masculine strength. Gitted  with  all womanly charms talented young Visakha excelled both in worldly wisdom and spiritual insight.

She was given in marriage to a non-Buddhist named Punnavaddhana, the son of a millionaire named Migara. On the wedding day, in addition to a large dowry and an exquisitely rich ornament  (Mahalata Palandana), ten admonitions were given to her. By her tact and patience she eventually succeeded in converting her husband’s house to a happy Buddhist home. Her callous father-in-law was the first to become a Sotapanna and embrace Buddhism.

Thereafter she was left free to engage in her religious activities as she liked.

It was she who constructed the Pubbarama in the east of Savatthi; as suggested by the Buddha.  Here the Buddha spent six rainy seasons.  She became the most prominent lay female supporter of the Buddha and His disciples.  As a lady she played a very important part in many activities connected with the Sasana. At times she was even deputed by the Buddha to settle disputes that arose amongst the Bhikkhunis. Some rules were laid down for Bhikkhus at her suggestion.

By her dignified conduct, refined manners, courteous speech, obedience and reverence to elders, compassion to her less fortunate ones, and kind hospitality, she won the hearts of all who knew her.