The Bhikṣuṇī Maṇimēkhalai

210 - Kāyaśaṇḍikai’s Story
As I could not rise into the air with him when he wanted me to start,
and, as all the fruit and food that he could bring together would not
satisfy my hunger, he left me with great sorrow, directing me the
while with great kindness to go to this city even after many days
journey, a city which in the Tamil land in Jambudvīpa was a very rich
one and where lived many people who helped those that were
helpless.
He comes here every year during the festival of Indra and parts again
with regret counting upon his coming the next year. Now you have
destroyed my hunger. I make my obeisance to you, and shall return to
my native city in the north.
Here in this city there is a place called Cakravāḷakoṭṭam inhabited by
those hermits who make the destruction of suffering their business of
life. Therein that place you will find an open resting place, a work of
charity; it is a habitation for all those that suffer from hunger coming
from all places, of those that suffer from disease and have no one to
look after them. Many others there are who, expecting that there they
would [155] get alms, go there and live on others’ charity.’
Having said this, Kāyaśaṇḍikai left for the land of the Vidyādharas.
Maṇimēkhalai, on the contrary, entered the streets of Puhār, and,
walking alone along one side of it, entered the public rest-house,
having circumambulated it thrice, and performed her obeisance in
thought, word and deed to the goddess of the city, worshipped by
those of the city and others. Making similar obeisance to ‘the statue of
the pillar’ she appeared in the hall of the hungry and the destitute,
with the inexhaustible bowl in her hand, as if pouring grain had come
on a wild region burnt up with the heat of the sun. She called out to
those there to come and receive the food from the inexhaustible bowl