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Kammāsapāda

The name given to the cannibal (porisāda) in the Mahāsutasoma Jātaka. Before becoming a cannibal he was the king of Bārāṇasī, and was later weaned from his evil habit by the Bodhisatta Sutasoma. He is identified with Aṅgulimāla (J.v.pp.503 f, 511).

Buddhaghosa (DA.ii.483) explains the name (“Spot-foot”) as being given because of a wound he once received, which healed, leaving a scar like a piece of well-grained timber (cittadārusadiso). This refers to the flight of the cannibal from his pursuers, when he trod on an acacia stake (khāṇu) that pierced his foot (J.v.472).

According to Buddhaghosa, the cannibal in the Jayaddisa Jātaka was also called Kammāsa or Kammāsapāda. (DA.ii.483. See also Watanabe’s article, “The Story of Kalmāsapāda and its Evolution in Indian Literature.” J.P.T.S.1909, pp.236 ff).

The place where the cannibal was tamed was called Kammāsadamma.