1. Khemaka.-A Sákyan of Kapilavatthu, father of Abhirúpa-Nandá. See also Kála-Khemaka. ThigA.25; Ap.ii.608.
2. Khemaka Thera.-An arahant. Once, when he lay very ill at the Badarikárámá, near Kosambí, some monks, staying at the Ghositáráma, sent one of their number, Dásaka, with a message to Khemaka, inquiring whether he managed to bear his pains. Dásaka returned with the reply that he did not; he was sent again to ask if Khemaka had seen the self in the five khandhas; when Dásaka returned with the answer that he had not, be was sent a third time to ask whether Khemaka was an arahant. "No," came the answer, and Dásaka had to visit him a fourth time with the inquiry, What did Khemaka mean by self? In exasperation Khemaka came himself to Ghositáráma and explained how, even when the Noble Disciple has put away the five lower fetters, there still clings to him a subtle remnant of the "I" conceit. It is said that as a result of the sermon Khemaka himself and sixty others became arahants (S.iii.126ff).
The Commentary (SA.ii.230f) explains that the monks wished to hear Khemaka because they knew his ability, and they also knew that if they showed keenness to learn he would come to them. They did not go to him because his but was small, and they did not actually ask him to come to them because he was ill.
3. Khemaka, Khema, Khemanesáda.-The name given to the fowler who caught the golden swan from Cittakúta, at the request of King Seyya (v.l. Samyama), as narrated in the Maháhamsa Játaka (q.v.). Khemaka received his name from the lake Khema, of which he was in charge. He is identified with Channa (J.v.356ff).
4. Khemaka.-See Khemavatí.