1. Khemá Therí.-An arahant, chief of the Buddha's women disciples. She was born in a ruling family at Ságala in the Madda country, and her skin was of the colour of gold. She became the chief consort of King Bimbisára. She would not visit the Buddha who was at Veluvana, lest he should speak disparagingly of her beauty with which she was infatuated. The king bade poets sing the glories of Veluvana and persuaded Khemá to go there. She was then brought face to face with the Buddha, and he conjured up, for her to see, a woman like a celestial nymph who stood facing him. Even as Khemá gazed on the nymph, whose extraordinary beauty far excelled her own, she saw her pass gradually from youth to extreme old age, and so fall down in the swoon of death. Seeing that Khemá was filled with dismay at the sight, the Buddha preached to her on the vanity of lust, and we are told that at that moment she attained arahantship. With the consent of Bimbisára she entered the Order, and was ranked by the Buddha foremost among his women disciples for her great insight (mahápaññánam aggá) (A.i.25; Dpv.xviii.9; see also MA.iv.168f.; Bu.xxvi.19; J.i.15,16).
In the time of Padumuttara she was a slave, and having seen the Buddha's chief disciple, Sujáta, gave him three cakes, and that same day she sold her hair and gave him alms.
In Kassapa Buddha's time she became the eldest daughter of Kikí, king of Benares, and was named Samaní. With her sisters she observed celibacy for twenty thousand years and built a monastery for the Buddha. She learnt the Mahánidána Sutta, having heard the Buddha preach it. In the time of Vipassí she became a renowned preacher of the Dhamma, and during the time of both Kakusandha and Konágamana she had great monasteries built for the Buddha and his monks. AA.i.187f; Thig.139-44; ThigA.126ff; Ap.ii.543ff; DhA.iv.57ff; cf. the story of Rúpa Nandá (DhA.iii.113-9).
Once when Khemá was at Toranavatthu, between Sávatthi and Sáketa, Pasenadi, who happened to spend one night there, heard of her presence and 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, and Pasenadi, delighted with her exposition, related it to the Buddha (S.iv.374ff). She is mentioned in several places (E.g., A.i.88; ii.164; iv.347; S.ii.236) as the highest ideal of womanhood worthy of imitation, and is described as the nun par excellence.
Khemá is identified with the mother in the Uraga Játaka (J.iii.168), the queen in the Rohantamiga (J.iv.423) and in the Hamsa (J.iv.430), the queen, Khemá, in the Maháhamsa (J.v.382), and the princess in the Mahájanaka (J.vi.68).
2. Khemá Therí.-One of the two chief women disciples of Dhammadassí Buddha (Bu.xvi.19; J.i.39).
3. Khemá.-The Anguttara Commentary (AA.ii.791) (on A.iv.347) speaks of a Khemá Upásiká in a list of lay-women. This Khemá is most probably identical with Khemá (1).
4. Khemá.-Queen of Brahmadatta, king of Benares. She dreamed of a golden peacock preaching, and wished that her dream might come true. Though the king tried every means in his power, the wish could not be fulfilled and the queen died. See the Mora Játaka. J.ii.36.
5. Khemá.-Chief queen of Brahmadatta, king of Benares. She dreamed of a golden deer preaching the Dhamma, and her wish to see her dream come true was fulfilled (J.iv.256). For details see the Ruru Játaka.
6. Khemá.-Chief queen of Brahmadatta, king of Benares (J.iv.334). Her story is similar to that of Khemá (4). For details see the Mahá-Mora Játaka.
7. Khemá.-Queen Consort of Brahmadatta, king of Benares (J.iv.413). Her story is similar to that of Khemá (5). She is identical with Khemá Therí (J.iv.423). See the Rohantamiga Játaka.
8. Khemá.-Queen Consort of King Seyya (Samyama) of Benares. She saw a golden swan in a dream, and wished to see one in real life (J.v.354). She is identified with Khemá Therí (J.v.382). For details see the Mahàhamsa Játaka.
9. Khemá.-A river flowing from Himavá (J.v.199f).