A Therí. She was a courtesan named Padumavatí, the belle of Ujjení. King Bimbisára, having heard of her beauty, expressed to his purohita a wish to see her. The purohita, by the power of his spells, enlisted the assistance of a Yakkha, Kumbhíra, who took the king to Ujjeni.

 

She bore to the king a son, Abhayarájakumára, who later joined the Order and became an arahant. It was on his account that Padumavatí came to be called Abhayamátá. She heard Abhayarájakumára preach and leaving the world herself became an arahant (ThigA.31-2).

 

Two verses attributed to her are found in the Therigatha (33,34).

 

In the time of the Buddha Tissa, seeing him going round for alms, with glad heart she gave him a spoonful of food. As a result, she was thirty-six times queen among the gods and was chief queen of fifty cakkavattis (ThigA.32).

 

She is evidently identical with Katacchubhikkhadáyiká of the Apadána (ii.516-7).


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