Biography (8): Kātiyāni

(a) Her Past Aspiration

The future Kātiyāni was born into a rich man’s family in the city of Haṃsāvatī, during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. She saw a certain female lay disciple being named as the foremost in unshakable conviction in the Teaching. She emulated that female lay disciple. After making extraordinary offerings, she aspired to that recognition in front of the Buddha, who predicted that her aspiration would be fulfilled in her future existence.

(b) Her Last Existence as Kātiyāni The Householder

The future Kātiyāni, for a hundred thousand world-cycle was reborn either in the deva realm or human realm, before she was reborn into the family of a householder in the town of Kuraraghara, during the time of Buddha Gotama. She was name Kātiyāni by her parents. When she came of age, she became a close friend of Kālī the householder’s wife who was the mother of the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa (refer to the Chapter 43: Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa Mahāthera).

The Unshakable Conviction of Kātiyāni

On one occasion, the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa, on his return from the Buddha’s monastery, was requested by his mother to reproduce the Buddha’s words for her benefit. In compliance, he delivered a discourse in the community hall for Dhamma lectures at the Town Square. As he was starting his discourse from the raised platform, with his mother as the chief listener, Kātiyāni the householder, in the company of her friend Kāḷī, arrived and was reverentially listening to the discourse among the audience.

At that time a band of five hundred robbers who had dug a tunnel from the outskirts of the town to the house of Kātiyāni according to their secret markings made in the day, had reached the house. Their leader did not join them but was making personal inquiries into the activities of the townsfolk. He stood behind Kātiyāni in the assembly where the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa was preaching a discourse on the Dhamma.

Kātiyāni said to her female assistance: “Go, girl, get some oil from my house for the lamps. Let us light up the lamps at this meeting hall. (According to the Sinhalese version: “We shall share the merit of our friend Kālī in this way.”) The servant went to the house but on noticing the robbers who were lurking in the tunnel, she was scared and returned to the assembly hall without bringing the oil. She reported the matter to her mistress, saying: “Madam, there is a tunnel dug in our compound by robbers!” The robber chief heard the girl’s urgent report to Kātiyāni and thought to himself: “If Kātiyāni were to go home in response to her maid’s report, I will cut her head immediately. If, on the other hand, she were to keep on listening to the discourse with attention, I will return her all the property which my men would have looted from her house.”

Kātiyāni said to her maid (in whispers): “Hush! The robbers will take only what they find in the house. I am listening to the Dhamma which is hard to be heard. Don’t disturb and spoil it!” When the robber chief heard Kātiyāni’s words he pondered: “What a devout lady she is! If I were to take the property looted from the house of such a meritorious lady, we would be devoured alive by the great earth.” He hurried to Kātiyāni’s residence, ordered his followers to return everything they had looted and went back with them to the assembly hall to listen to the discourse, taking their seats at the end of the audience.

Kātiyāni was established in the Fruition of Stream-Entry at the end of the discourse by the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa. When dawn came, the robber chief went to Kātiyāni and prostrating at her feet, said: “Dear Madame, kindly forgive us for our fault.” Kātiyāni asked: “What wrong have you done to me?” The robber chief admitted all their plot to her. “I forgive you all,” she said.

“Madam, your forgiveness does not exonerate us yet. As a matter of fact, we would request that your son, the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa, admit all the five hundred of us into the Order as novices.” Kātiyāni took the gang to the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa, and herself bore all the responsibilities regarding the four requisites for them. They were admitted into the order as novices by the Venerable Soṇa Kutikaṇṇa. They strove to gain the Path-Knowledge and ultimately became arahats.

This is the story of Kātiyāni the householder whose conviction in the Triple Gem was unshakable.

(c) Kātiyāni as The Foremost Female Lay Disciple

On a later occasion, during the Buddha’s residence at the Jetavana monastery, when He was naming distinguished female lay disciples according to their respective merits, He declared:

“Bhikkhus, among My female lay disciples who have unshakable conviction in the Teaching, Kātiyāni is the foremost.”