Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.1861

v2.c31.1861

Mahāmattā.—Wife of King Vaṅkanāsikatissa. She was the daughter of King Subha, and was given to a friend of his, a brickworker, who adopted her as his daughter. She used to bring him food at midday. One day, seeing an ascetic in a kadamba-thicket, she gave him the food. The brick-worker was glad, and asked her to give food regularly to the monk, who prophesied that she would be the queen, and asked her not to forget the kadamba-thicket. She had auspicious signs on her body, on account of which she was chosen to be the wife of Vaṅkanāsika. She later remembered the thera’s words and built a vihāra on the site of the kadamba-thicket.¹