Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c31.2577

v2.c31.2577

On the bank of the Vettavatī lived a brahmin called Jātimanta, very proud of his birth. Mātaṅga went thither to humble the pride of Jātimanta and lived higher up-stream. One day he nibbled a toothpick and threw it into the river, where, lower down, it got entangled in Jātimanta's hair. He was greatly annoyed and went up-stream, where he found Mātaṅga and told him that, if he stayed there any longer, at the end of seven days his head would split into seven pieces. On the seventh day Mātaṅga stopped the sun from rising. On discovering the cause, the people dragged Jātimanta to Mātaṅga and made him ask forgiveness, falling at Mātaṅga's feet. Jātimanta's head was covered with a lump of clay, which was immersed in the water as the sun rose.