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Udàna 1: Bodhivaggo
The Chapter (including the Discourses) about the Awakening (Tree)

9: The Discourse about Those with Knotted Hair

Thus I heard:
at one time the Gracious One was dwelling near Gayà, on Gayà Peak.

Then at that time many knotted-haired ascetics, in the cold Winter nights, in between `the eights', at the time of the snowfall, in the Gayà (river), were plunging out, and plunging in, were plunging out and in, were sprinkling (water), and were offering the fire sacrifice, (thinking): ßThrough this there is purity.û

The Gracious One saw that those many knotted-haired ascetics, in the Winter nights, in between `the eights', at the time of the snowfall, in the Gayà (river), were plunging out and plunging in, were plunging out and in, were sprinkling (water), and were offering the fire sacrifice, (thinking): ßThrough this there is purity.û

Then the Gracious One, having understood the significance of it, on that occasion uttered this exalted utterance: