Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c7.470

v1.c7.470

From the time of Ānanda’s conception among the Caṇḍālas, misfortune dogged their footsteps. Knowing that a Jonah had come among them, they caused a search to be made and, as a result of their investigations, they sent the pregnant mother away. When the child was born he was a monstrosity with his organs all out of place. When old enough, he was given a potsherd and told to beg his living. One day he came to the house in which he had lived in his former life, and though he managed to enter it, he was discovered and thrown out by the servants. The Buddha happened to be passing by, and sending for Mūlasiri, he told him that the beggar had been his father. Being convinced by certain proofs, Mūlasiri believed and took refuge in the Buddha.¹ It is said that eighty-four thousand beings attained deathlessness on the occasion of the Buddha preaching to Mūlasiri about his father Ānanda.²