Son of a councillor of Sāvatthi. In his youth he first joined the Order of the Nigaṇṭhā; being dissatisfied, he was won over by the Buddha’s Twin-miracle and, entering the Order, reached Arahantship (Thag.v.88; ThagA.i.186). He is evidently to be identified with Sālapupphiya Thera of the Apadāna (i.169).

In Vipassī Buddha’s time he was born as a lion and gave the Buddha a flowering branch of a sala-tree.

He was also once a Cakkavattī, named Verocana.