Aṅgulimāla (Pali; lit. 'finger necklace') [1][2] is an important figure in Buddhism, particularly within the Theravāda tradition. Depicted as a ruthless brigand who completely transforms after a conversion to Buddhism, he is seen as the example par excellence of the redemptive power of the Buddha 's teaching and the Buddha's skill as a teacher.

Certainly the most notorious and interesting arhant in the Pali Canon is Angulimala, whose name literally means “finger garland,” in allusion to his reputed habit of killing passersby in the Jalini Forest and wearing a garland or necklace of their finger bones before entering the Buddhist sangha and attaining nirvana.

For this gruesome and growing garland of bloody fingers he was nicknamed Angulimala which means ‘finger garland’ or ‘finger necklace’. This was the man who, peering out from his lair, spotted the Buddha coming towards him and who that day had round his neck nine hundred and ninety-nine little fingers.

So, one day Gautama Buddha came to this town. So, by now because he is wearing a garland of these fingers, they called him Angulimala, that means one who wears fingers as his garland. He just needs one more finger for him to complete his vow. Gautama came and he was to go that way. People said, “Don’t go this way.

There is a story of Buddha’s time. There was a man who was a dacoit and he was called Angulimala. People who know Buddha know Angulimala also. He was compared to Hitler in those days. He had killed 999 people and cut their fingers and made a garland out of those fingers. He was a terror. People were scared of him.

The Buddha perceived with his "divine eye" ("clairvoyance") that Angulimala had slain 999 victims, and was desperately seeking a thousandth. If the Buddha encountered Angulimala that day, he would become a monk and subsequently attain Nirvana.

Angulimala is one of the crucial figures in Buddhism, as well as the lifetime of Lord Buddha. The story of Angulimala is described in many Buddhist sutras, especially in the Theravada Sutras. Among all the essential disciples of Gautama Buddha, Angulimala had the …

Oct 23, 2008 · Angulimala (Pāli: "garland of fingers") is an important early figure in Buddhism, particularly within the Theravada school. Depicted in the suttas as a ruthless killer who is redeemed by conversion to Buddhism, his story is seen as an example of the redemptive power of the Buddha's teaching and the universal human potential for spiritual progress.

Buddha took him to the temple and gave vast and profound teachings, according to his mental capacity. Angulimala received special insight into these vast and profound teachings and, by gaining confidence in the teachings, the Dharma, he requested to become a monk.

Angulimala, the robber and murderer, is one of the best known figures of the Buddhist scriptures, because of his dramatic life story. His conversion to monkhood and later to sainthood was exceptional as he seems to have been the only former criminal to …