Chief disciple of Sikhī Buddha (D.ii.9; J.i.41; Bu.xxi.20). In the Aruṇavatī Sutta it is said that he went with Sikhī to a Brahma-world and, at the Buddha’s request, taught a discourse to the accompaniment of great psychic powers. He proved that by using just such speech as if he were teaching a gathering of monks, he could, standing in the Brahma-world, make his voice heard by its thousand realms (S.i.154 f). The verses spoken on this occasion are, in the Theragāthā, ascribed to Abhibhūta (v.1147-8).

In the Aṅguttaranikāya (i.226 f; AA.i.436 f ) we find Ānanda asking the Buddha how far Abhibhū’s powers bore relation to those of a Buddha, and the Buddha replying that Abhibhū was a mere disciple, and proceeding to describe the immeasurable powers of the Tathāgata.

Abhibhū was a brahmin because we find him so addressed in the Aruṇavatī Sutta referred to above, but in the Buddhavaṃsa Commentary (p.202) he is spoken of as a rājaputta.

In the Paṭisambhidhāmagga Commentary (488 f ) his story is given as an example of vikubbana-iddhi whereby a person could make himself seen in many places at the same time. We are told that he developed the blue meditation device (nīla-kasina), to attract to himself the attention of the world systems.

The Thera Adhopupphiya had been a hermit in Himavā during the time of Sikhī Buddha and had offered flowers to Abhibhū. Ap.i.128-9.