The king, Prasenjit’s kingdom was in deep trouble due to a dreaded dacoit named Angulimaal. It was not his real name, but a name representing the barbaric act he used to indulge in. His custom was to chop off the little finger of his victim thread it into a garland of fingers he used to wear always. The garland was ever becoming longer as new fingers were added to the collection. In Hindi ‘Angulimaal’ literally means ‘garland of fingers.’
The king sent several teams of soldiers to nab or eliminate Angulimaal. But the dacoit slayed them all and added their little fingers to his garland.
So, his terror spread. The people were insecure. The travel through that area became an suicidal act. All the towns and villages around his forest den were plundered. Even the rumour of the arrival of the dreaded Angulimaal made people flee.
The king was very worried and embarrassed. He himself decided to challenge the dacoit. The king set out with an army of 500 hand picked soldiers.
Meanwhile, Budhha visited the vihara of that region and heard about the terror of the dacoit. Buddha at once decided to tackle the problem of the dacoit. He set out for the forest area where it was rumoured that Angulimaal had his den.
All the shepherds, villagers, travellers and farmers begged Budhha not to challenge the heartless desperado. But Buddha set their fears at rest and asked them not to worry. And he marched on towards the dacoits home ground.
The spies informed Angulimaal that a monk named Buddha was trespassing his kingdom of law-lessness. It infuriated the dacoit. Then, he smiled. He would add Buddha’s little finger to his garland collection.
So determined, Angulimaal emerged out of his den and surveyed around. He spotted the saffron figure of a lean monk walking along displaying no fear. He stormed towards the monk.
Angulimaal screamed, “Stop oye! You beanpole of a monk!”
Buddha looked back. Then, he walked on ignoring the command of the dacoit. It maddened Angulimaal with fury. Such cheek! He ran to grab the monk. He ran, and ran but could not catch up with Buddha who was merely walking. It angered the dacoit. “What was going on? Why don’t I reach him?” he grumbled. He decided to shoot his arrow at Buddha who once looked back and then walked on. Angulimaal’s hands had become so heavy that he could not use them to shoot the arrow. He tried to draw out his sword. But the sword had badly jammed into the sheath.
Angulimaal looked baffled and desperate. Frustration was getting on his nerves.
Now, Buddha stopped and turned back to face Angulimaal. He spoke, “Why dreaded dacoit Angulimaal! What happened? I was told that you were very ferocious and did whatever you liked. Why are you so helpless against an unarmed skinny monk like me who you prefer to call beanpole?”
Angulimaal stood speechless.
His body was turning into jelly. He collapsed and fell at the feet of Buddha and prayed, “Lord Buddha! Please forgive me. I have been a small arrogant idiot. I want to redeem myself. Take me into your fold, O Lord!”
Buddha bent down and patted him patronisingly. Angulimaal wept. Buddha picked him up and embraced. Then, he commanded, “Brother Angulimaal! Let’s go and surrender to Sangha.”
The dacoit became a monk.
It is obvious that Buddha had developed a strong hypnotic power through penance and meditation. He had a power to influence people and cast spells. He could make others imagine things and see illusions suggested by him telepathically. He used his power only for causes like banishing evil from degenerate minds like that of Angulimaal.
A couple of days later, King Prasenjit arrived at Vihara to get the blessings from Lord Buddha for a special mission. He had 500 soldiers with him.
After paying obeisance, the King informed, “Holy lord, this time I come to eliminate a dreaded dacoit who is going by the name of Angulimaal. He has become a big trouble for my kingdom and the people. His terror requires to be ended.”
Buddha smiled and said, “Dear king, tell me what will be your reaction if I present to you the dacoit you are seeking in the guise of a Buddhist monk?”
The king stared at Buddha. Then he spoke, “Well I will embrace him. I will invite him to my palace and feast him. I will sing his praises for giving up evil ways. I wish that could be true but…”
Buddha pointed to a monk who sat among the other monks and announced, “Look there, king. That new monk is Brother Angulimaal, the ex-dacoit.”
The king looked shocked. He walked to the new monk and embraced him. He asked, “Holy sir, are you really Angulimaal?”
The monk nodded his head and revealed, “I was till day before yesterday. But that is past and history. Now I am just a nameless Buddhist monk.”
The king bent down to touch the feet of Brother Angulimaal and formally invited him to royal dinner.
The monk politely said, “I thanks for the kind invitation. But as a monk I can’t accept royal food. I must eat whatever humble fare I get in alms.”
Angulimaal went to town to beg for alms just like any other monk. Some people recognised him in the town. The word went around. The people surrounded him and started pelting stones at him. He was also abused and beaten up. But he did not hit back. He fell down badly thrashed. He arrived at the monastery badly bleeding and in a very bad shape.
Buddha ran to him and hugged him saying, “Brother, you have passed the test. You have done us proud. You are a true Buddhist monk.”
A new pious life had begun for Angulimaal.
