Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī (Sanskrit: महाप्रजापति गौतमी; Pali: Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī) or simply Prajāpatī was the foster-mother, step-mother and maternal aunt (mother's sister) of the Buddha.

It is recorded in the various surviving Vinaya traditions, including the Pali Canon and Sarvastivada and Mulasarvastivada versions.

"[5] According to the Theri-apadāna, Gotamī started on the path of the Dhamma during the time of Padumuttara Buddha, when she was born to a wealthy family in Hamsavati.

In that life, they encountered a group of 500 paccekabuddhas, for whom they built huts and provided food offerings for the duration of the rain retreat.

[2] Respectfully he questioned the Buddha, "Lord, are women capable of realising the various stages of sainthood as nuns?"

"If that is so, Lord, then it would be good if women could be ordained as nuns," said Ananda, encouraged by the Buddha's reply.

"If, Ananda, Maha Pajapati Gotami would accept the Eight Conditions it would be regarded that she has been ordained already as a nun.