However, out of jealousy, fellow students set him up against his teacher. He grows up as an intelligent young man in Sāvatthī, and during his studies becomes the favorite student of his teacher. Aṅgulimāla is seen by Buddhists as the 'patron saint' of childbirth and is associated with fertility in South and Southeast Asia.Īṅgulimāla's story can be found in numerous sources in Pāli, Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.
Depicted as a ruthless brigand who completely transforms after a conversion to Buddhism, he is seen as the example par excellence of the redemptive power of the Buddha's teaching and the Buddha's skill as a teacher. 'finger necklace') is an important figure in Buddhism, particularly within the Theravāda tradition.
'finger necklace' ('he who wears fingers as a necklace')Īṅgulimāla ( Pāli language lit.
