The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

189 - The Magic Bowl
coming to know of it ordered an abundance of rain, and thus removed
famine that led to [140] this baleful consequence. Tīvatilakai said:
‘You may have heard the story already. Food that is given to those
who can afford to provide it for themselves is charity sold. Food
provided to allay the hunger of those that cannot otherwise satisfy it
is true charity, and all right kind of life in this world comes to such
people. Among those that live in this world those that give food are
those that give life. Therefore go forward and give to those that are
hungry that which will destroy hunger.’
Maṇimēkhalai, having heard this, said in reply:
‘In my former life, my husband died by a cobra whose sight brings
death. I ascended the funeral pyre with him and while burning, I
bethought myself of the food that I gave to a Buddhist Bikṣu, Sādhu
Sakkāra. As a result of that good thought at the moment of my death,
this hunger-relieving bowl has come into my hands, I believe. Like a
mother’s breast which at the sight of the face of her hungry child
begins yielding milk, I wish to see this bowl in my hand provide a
supply of food inexhaustible at sight of those who are oppressed with
hunger, and wander about in dripping rain or scorching sun
indifferently in search of something to appease it.’
After a little while Tīvatilakai gave leave to Maṇimēkhalai to return
to Puhār with the bowl. Maṇimēkhalai, after a profound obeisance to
her and circumambulating the Buddha-seat again, thought of the
mantra which gave her the power to fly, and flew through the air.
She returned to Kāvēripaṭṭiṇam and meeting her mother and
companion told them of her previous birth to their wonderment;
taking them along with her she went to see the holy sage Aṟavaṇa