Author of the Kaccāyana-vyākaraṇa, the oldest of the Pāḷi grammars extant. Orthodox tradition identifies him with Mahā-Kaccāna. He was probably a South Indian and belonged to the Avanti school founded by Mahā-Kaccāna (P.L.C.179 ff; Gv.66; Svd.1233 f). He was, perhaps, also the author of the Nettippakaraṇa. Kaccāyana probably belongs to the fifth or sixth century A.D.

The Gandhavaṃsa (p.59) ascribes to Kaccāyana the authorship of the Kaccāyanagandha, Mahāniruttigandha, Cūḷaniruttigandha, Peṭakopadesagandha, Nettigandha and Vaṇṇanītigandha.