The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

201
Book XV
[Maṇimekhalai feeds the Poor]
Aṟavaṇa Aḍigaḷ continued to relate the further story of Āputra. The
cow that for seven days from birth fostered the child Āputra, had
taken birth as a result of its own good deeds at Dhavaḷamalai in
Śāvakanāḍu where a Rishi by name Maṇimukha was living his austere
life. In its new birth it had horns and hoofs of gold, and had a plentiful
yield of milk even before it had calved, which it made use of for
feeding human beings.
Seeing this phenomenal occurrence, the Rishi who understood the
past, present and future, declared that the cow would give birth to a
hero from out of a golden egg.
Āputra, till he gave up life in Maṇipallavam for the purpose of doing
charity to all living creatures, had never lost thought of the cow that
had saved him from death and brought him up during the first seven
days of his existence, and, as a consequence, he appeared again on
earth, as the Rishi had predicted.
He came into existence like the very Buddha himself on the full moon
of the month of Vaiśākha. Though it was not the season of the rains,
there was a drizzle of holy water as at the appearance of the Buddha
himself.
All the holy ones in the Cakravāḷa at Puhār struck with wonder at the
appearance of these good omens, and not understanding the cause
thereof, went down to the hall where the statue on the pillar was