Angulimala 1

Angulimala was one of the best known disciples of the Buddha. His life was unusual and full of adventures. It was a violent one, too.
Angulimala was known in his boyhood as Ahimsaka or the “Harmless one.” His father, Bhaggava, was the court astrologer and chaplain to King Pasenadi of Kosala and his mother was Mantani. He was born in the dead of night under the bandit’s constellation.
It is said that at the time of Angulimala’s birth, all the weapons in the city glowed as if on fire, including those which belonged to the king. It was unmistakably an evil omen: the child was destined to become a notorious bloody bandit who would bring destruction and untold terror to his own countrymen.
When he came of age, he was sent to Takkasila for an education befitting the young son of a respectable family. He soon proved to be an excellent student, loved and trusted by his teacher; but he was also an object of envy for his fellow-students, who consistently poisoned his teacher’s mind against him.
Ahimska’s teacher, thereupon, plotted a vile scheme to destroy him. He demanded of Ahimsaka an honorarium of a thousand human lives, each represented by a right-hand finger the latter was supposed to bring him. This, the teacher hoped, would make Ahimsaka a murderer with a price on his head, who would consequently be hunted down and destroyed.
At first Ahimsaka was reluctant to carry out such a bloody mission. He was taught from his boyhood to be kind and gentle. He also knew that it was a sin to kill people. But his teacher assured him that once his mission was completed, he would be instructed in a special knowledge that would free himself from all sins and would then be endowed with great supernatural powers.
Ahimsaka thought hand. He did not realize that his involvement with evil people would eventually lead him to the evil path. With great reluctance, he accepted his teacher’s demand. He was determined to complete his mission as soon as possible.
The gentle Ahimsaka thus became the cruelest bandit, merciless and ever bent on killing. He spared none that happened to cross his path, men, women, the aged and even infants. From each of his victim he cut a finger and tied it with a long string, which he wore around his neck.
Altogether he killed 999 people and the garland he wore had 999 fingers on it. Thus he became known as Angulimala or the “Finger-Garlanded One”