kaanaa

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abb

Kānā

Daughter of Kānamātā. After she married she visited her mother, and one day, while she was there, her husband sent for her. Her mother, not wishing her to return empty-handed, asked her to wait till she had made some cakes. When the cakes were ready, a monk came to the door and Kānā gave him some. Four other monks came, and the cakes were finished. Four times Kānā’s husband sent for her and four times the same thing happened. So, in anger, the husband took another wife. Kānā, learning this, was so greatly annoyed that she reviled and abused every monk she saw until no monk dared go into her street. The Buddha, hearing of this, visited Kānā’s mother, and having finished his meal there, sent for Kānā, argued with her, and convinced her that the monks were not to blame inasmuch as they had only taken what was given them. At the end of the Buddha’s discourse Kānā became a Stream-winner (sotāpanna).

The king saw the Buddha returning from Kānā’s home and, on learning what had happened, sent for her, adopted her as his daughter, and arranged for her marriage with a rich nobleman. Thenceforward Kānā’s generosity to the monks became proverbial. Vin.iv.78f; DhA.ii.149ff; the Samantapāsādikā (iv.819) gives a somewhat different account; there, when Kānā’s husband heard that the Buddha had been to see her, he sent for her and she returned.

It was on Kānā’s account that the Babbu Jātaka (q.v.) (J.i.477f) was taught. Kānā is identified with the mouse of the story.

She was called Kānā because she was so beautiful that those who saw her became blind with passion for her (ye ye taṃ passanti, te te rāgena kānā honti) (Sp. loc. cit.).

Both Kānā and her mother are mentioned among those who kept the eightfold fast. A.iv.349; AA.ii.791.

Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names • G.P. Malalasekera