Scholars have theorized that Aṅgulimāla may have been part of a violent cult before his conversion. Villagers are still angry with Aṅgulimāla, but this is improved somewhat when Aṅgulimāla helps a mother with childbirth through an act of truth. Aṅgulimāla becomes a follower of the Buddha, and to the surprise of the king and others, becomes a monk under his guidance. The Buddha manages to prevent this, however, and uses his power and teachings to bring Aṅgulimāla to the right path. Meanwhile, Aṅgulimāla's mother attempts to interfere, almost causing her to be killed by her son as well.

Eventually, this causes the king to send an army to catch the killer. Trying to accomplish this mission, Aṅgulimāla becomes a cruel brigand, killing many and causing entire villages to emigrate. In an attempt to get rid of Aṅgūlimāla, the teacher sends him on a deadly mission to find a thousand-human fingers to complete his studies. 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.

Angulimala piritha lyrics