KaṇhÄjinÄ
Daughter of Vessantara and MaddÄ«. She was so called because, at birth, she was laid on a black skin (J.vi.487). When Vessantara retired to the forest, his wife and children accompanied him to Vankagiri. Later, both KaṇhÄjinÄ and her brother JÄli were given to JÅ«jaka as slaves and were ill-treated by him. For sixty leagues they travelled with him, led and guarded by the gods, till they came to the court of their grandfather Sañjaya, king of Sivi, and there they were released, KanhÄjinÄ’s price being one hundred elephants, one hundred male and female slaves, etc. The children afterwards rejoined their parents and lived happily at the court (J.vi.513ff).
KaṇhÄjinÄ is identified with Uppalavaá¹‡á¹‡Ä (J.vi.593). In the verses she is sometimes called KaṇhÄ (e.g., 546, 548, 553).
Vessantara’s gift of his children is considered the greatest of his gifts. e.g., Milinda, 117, 275, 284; Cyp.p.80; DhA.i.406; AA.i.64.
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