1. Khemā Therī.-An arahant, chief of the Buddha's women disciples. She was born in a ruling family at Sāgala in the Madda country, und her skin was of the colour of gold. She became the chief consort of König Bimbisāra. She would not visit the Buddha who was at Veluvana, lest he should speak disparagingly of her beauty mit which she was infatuated. Der König bade poets sing the glories of Veluvana und persuaded Khemā to go there. She was then brought face to face mit the Buddha, und he conjured up, for her to see, a woman like a celestial nymph who stood facing him. Even as Khemā gazed on the nymph, whose extraordinary beauty far excelled her own, she saw her pass gradually from youth to extreme old age, und so fall down in the swoon of death. Seeing that Khemā was filled mit dismay at the sight, the Buddha preached to her on the vanity of lust, und we are told that at that moment she attained arahantship. With the consent of Bimbisāra she entered the Order, und was ranked by the Buddha foremost among his women disciples for her great insight (mahāpaññānam aggā) (A.i.25; Dpv.xviii.9; see also MA.iv.168f.; Bu.xxvi.19; J.i.15,16).
In der Zeit von Padumuttara she was a slave, und having seen the Buddha's chief disciple, Sujāta, gave him three cakes, und that same day she sold her hair und gave him alms.
In Kassapa Buddha's time she became the eldest Tochter of Kikī, König of Benares, und was named Samanī. With her sisters she observed celibacy for zwanzig tausend years und built a monastery for the Buddha. She learnt the Mahānidāna Sutta, having heard the Buddha preach it. In der Zeit von Vipassī she became a renowned preacher of the Dhamma, und during the time of both Kakusandha und Konāgamana she had great monasteries built for the Buddha und his monks. AA.i.187f; Thig.139-44; ThigA.126ff; Ap.ii.543ff; DhA.iv.57ff; cf. the story of Rūpa Nandā (DhA.iii.113-9).
Once when Khemā was at Toranavatthu, between Sāvatthi und Sāketa, Pasenadi, who happened to spend one night there, heard of her presence und went to see her. He questioned her as to whether or not the Buddha existed after death. She explained the matter to him in various ways, und Pasenadi, delighted mit her exposition, related it to the Buddha (S.iv.374ff). She is erwähnt in several places (z.B., A.i.88; ii.164; iv.347; S.ii.236) as the highest ideal of womanhood worthy of imitation, und is described as the nun par excellence.
Khemā is identified mit the Mutter in the Uraga Jātaka (J.iii.168), the queen in the Rohantamiga (J.iv.423) und in the Hamsa (J.iv.430), the queen, Khemā, in the Mahāhamsa (J.v.382), und the princess in the Mahājanaka (J.vi.68).
2. Khemā Therī.-One of the two chief women disciples of Dhammadassī Buddha (Bu.xvi.19; J.i.39).
3. Khemā.-The Anguttara Commentary (AA.ii.791) (on A.iv.347) speaks of a Khemā Upāsikā in a list of lay-women. This Khemā is most probably identical mit Khemā (1).
4. Khemā.-Queen of Brahmadatta, König of Benares. She dreamed of a golden peacock preaching, und wished that her dream might come true. Though the König tried every means in his power, the wish could not be fulfilled und the queen died. See the Mora Jātaka. J.ii.36.
5. Khemā.-Chief queen of Brahmadatta, König of Benares. She dreamed of a golden deer preaching the Dhamma, und her wish to see her dream come true was fulfilled (J.iv.256). For details see the Ruru Jātaka.
6. Khemā.-Chief queen of Brahmadatta, König of Benares (J.iv.334). Her story is similar to that of Khemā (4). For details see the Mahā-Mora Jātaka.
7. Khemā.-Queen Consort of Brahmadatta, König of Benares (J.iv.413). Her story is similar to that of Khemā (5). She is identical mit Khemā Therī (J.iv.423). See the Rohantamiga Jātaka.
8. Khemā.-Queen Consort of König Seyya (Samyama) of Benares. She saw a golden swan in a dream, und wished to see one in real life (J.v.354). She is identified mit Khemā Therī (J.v.382). For details see the Mahàhamsa Jātaka.
9. Khemā. Ein Fluss der vom Himavā fliesst. (J.v.199f).