Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c12.1844

v1.c12.1844

6. Kāḷi.—A Yakkhinī. A householder, having a barren wife, married another woman, a friend of the former. Every time a child was conceived, the first wife brought about a miscarriage; at last the second wife died through a miscarriage and, on her deathbed, vowed to take her revenge. After several births, in which each, alternately, devoured the children of the other, the second wife became an ogress named Kāḷi and the first wife was born in a good family. Twice the ogress ate the latter’s children; on the third occasion Kāḷi was occupied in Vessavaṇa’s service and the child was left unhurt. On his naming day the parents took him to Jetavana, and there, as the mother was giving suck to her child, while her husband bathed in the monastery pool, she saw the ogress and, being terrified, dashed into the monastery where the Buddha was preaching. The guardian deity, Sumana, prevented Kāḷi’s entrance, but the Buddha, having heard the story, sent for Kāḷi and preached to her, whereupon she became a *sotāpanna*. The Buddha persuaded the two women to become friends, and Kāḷi lived in the house of the other; but being uncomfortable there and at various other lodgings provided for her, she ultimately lived outside the village. There her aid was invoked for the protection of the crops, and eight ticket-foods (*salākabhatta*) were established in her honour.¹