 Anthropologist Ranjini Obeyesekere notes that of the Buddha's two pairs of chief disciples, each pair had one disciple that was dark-skinned (Maha Moggallana and Uppalavanna) and one disciple that was light-skinned (Sariputta and Khema).Obeyesekere argues that this pairing is meant to symbolize the inclusiveness of the Buddha's teachings, that the Dhamma is meant for people of all colors and classes.Murcott argues that Khema's exchange with a powerful king such as King Pasenadi in the "Khema Sutta" shows how well respected she was, given that society at the time did not even allow female nuns to teach male monks.