Chaplain to the King of Kosala, first to Mahākosala, and then to his son Pasenadi. Later he renounced the world and, with a large band of followers, wandered about Aṅga, Magadha, and Kururaṭṭha, teaching a cult of nature-worship. The Buddha, seeing his potential (upanissaya), sent Mahā-Moggallāna to convert him. Moggallāna went to Aggidatta’s hermitage, but being refused shelter there, vanquished, by a display of psychic-power, a nāgarāja, Ahicchatta, who lived in the neighbourhood, and occupied the nāga’s abode. While Aggidatta and his followers stand awestruck at this event, the Buddha appears, and realising that the Buddha is even greater than Moggallāna, they pay homage to him. The Buddha teaches them the error of their ways. At the end of the discourse they become Arahants (DhA.iii.241-7).