Son of a very rich brahmin in Ukkaṭṭhā, near the Himavā. Having learnt all the arts and sciences, he left the world and practised penance for the purpose of obtaining immortality. He met the Buddha in the course of his wanderings and, having entered the Order, in due course acquired six-fold higher knowledge (abhiññā).

Later he lived in a forest near the village of Kuṇḍiya of the Kurus, and the verses ascribed to him in the Theragāthā (vv.219-21; ThagA.i.339-41) were spoken at Uggārāma, nearby, to some brahmin acquaintances who had come from Uttarāpatha.

In a previous birth he had met Sikhī Buddha and paid homage to him.