A potter of Rājagaha. In his house the Buddha taught Pukkusāti the Dhātu-vibhaṅga Sutta. Dhaniya, hearing that Pukkasāti had died an Arahant the same night, was so impressed by the power of the Dhamma, that he entered the Order (Thag.v.228-30; Tha.gA.i.347 f). He once made a grass but on the slopes of Isigili and lived there with several others during the rains. He continued to live there after the others had left. While he was away begging for alms, his hut was pulled down by women searching for straw and firewood, but he rebuilt it. Three times this happened, until, in exasperation, Dhaniya very skilfully made bricks and tiles and built a hut both strong and splendid, with tiles of shining crimson which gave out a bell-like sound when tapped. The Buddha, seeing this, chided Dhaniya and ordered the hut to be pulled down. Dhaniya then built a hut of wood which he obtained from a guild of timber merchants, suppliers of wood to the king, giving them to understand that he had the king’s permission. Vassakāra, hearing of this, reported the matter to Bimbisāra, who sent for Dhaniya. Dhaniya maintained that the king, by royal proclamation, had permitted the monks to use the royal supplies of wood and other materials. Bimbisāra admitted the proclamation, but said it referred only to supplies straight from the forest, and he sent Dhaniya away with a warning. The matter created a great uproar and the Buddha blamed Dhaniya. Vin.iii.41-5; Sp.ii.286.

Dhaniya later changed his ways and became an Arahant. In the time of Sikhī Buddha he was a householder and gave the Buddha a reed-chain? (naḷamālā). He is probably identical with Naḷamāliya of the Apadāna. Ap.ii.412.