Called Kulagharikā, described among laywomen as the best of those who believe even from hearsay (anussavappasannānaṃ) (A.i.26). She was the mother of Soṇa-Kuṭikaṇṇa, and her husband belonged to Kuraraghara in Avanti. When with child, she came to her parents in Rājagaha, and there, while enjoying the cool breeze on the balcony above her roof (sīhapañjare), she overheard the conversation that took place between Sātāgira and Hemavata on the excellence of the Buddha and of his teaching; as she listened, faith in the Buddha grew in her and she became a Stream-winner. That same night Soṇa was born. Later, Kāḷī returned to Kuraraghara and there waited on Mahā-Kaccāna. When Soṇa entered the Order under Kaccāna and visited the Buddha, she gave him a costly rug to be spread in the Buddha’s chamber. When Soṇa returned home after this visit, Kāḷī asked him to teach her in the same way as he had earlier taught the Dhamma in the presence of the Buddha, earning the applause of the Buddha himself and of the devas of the ten thousand worlds.

Kāḷī was considered most senior among the women who became Stream-winners (sabbamātugāmānaṃ antare paṭhamakasotāpannā sabbajeṭṭhikā) (AA.i.133 ff; SnA.i.208 f). She was the constant companion and staunch friend of Kātiyāni (AA.i.245). Kāḷī’s wish to attain to the eminence which she reached in this life was made in the time of Padumuttara Buddha when she heard a laywoman declared pre-eminent among those who had begotten faith by hearsay (AA.i.247).

A conversation between her and Mahā-Kaccāna is related in the Kāḷigodha Sutta (q.v.)