The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

153 - Prologue
effulgence. She learnt from the miraculous seat all that took place in
her previous birth. Appearing before her then, goddess Maṇimēkhalā
taught her some mantras to be used as occasion arose.
Then there appeared before her Tīvatilakai, the goddess of the island.
By means of this last, Maṇimēkhalai obtained possession of the
miraculous begging-bowl of the Buddha.
With the begging-bowl in her hand, and accompanied by her mother
and her companion, Maṇimēkhalai visited the sage Aṟavaṇa Aḍigaḷ.
The sage taught her the actual nature of Āputra. He further recounted
to her how he obtained the begging-bowl from the ‘goddess of
learning.’ Maṇimēkhalai carried that miraculous bowl in her hand
and entered the streets of Puhār for begging. Ladies of chastity in the
city deposited alms for her in the bowl. [113]
The good damsel having satisfied the insatiable hunger of
Kāyaśaṇḍikai, entered the public hall of travellers in the city.
Hearing of her presence there, the prince followed her to the public
hall.
To save herself from his importunities, she assumed the form of a
Vidyādharā woman. The king, his father, strict in administering
justice, transformed the State-prison into a house of charity.
The Vidyādhara Kāñcana approached Maṇimēkhalai in the belief
that she was Kāyaśaṇḍikai, his wife; he found her however
irresponsive, to his surprise and chagrin. This Vidyādhara cut the
prince in two by his sword when he came near her, in the belief that
he was responsible for his wife’s estrangement from him.