Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v2.c36.2452

v2.c36.2452

Sāli, Sāliya.—Only son of Duṭṭhagāmaṇi. He renounced the throne and married Asokamālā, a Caṇḍāla-girl.¹ In his previous birth he had been a smith, named Tissa, in Muṇḍagaṅgā, and his wife was Nāgā (Sumanā). The couple gave a meal with pork to eight arahants,² led by Dhammadinna Thera of Talaṅgatissapabbata. It is said that on the day of birth the whole of Ceylon was filled with paddy, hence his name. Sāli was very pious, and all the revenues given to him by his father he gave away in charity. He kept the fast days in the Issarasamaṇa-vihāra and built the Sālipabbata-vihāra.³ He will be the son of Metteyya Buddha in his next birth.⁴