A resident of Vāmantapabbhāra. He was among the last of the Arahants, and had taken part in various assemblies led by the Bodhisatta (J.iv.490; vi. 30). It is probably this Thera who is referred to as Gāmantapabbhāravāsī Mahāsīva in the Aṅguttaranikāya Commentary (AA.i.24, 29). He lived in Tissamahārāma at Mahāgāma, and was the teacher of eighteen groups of monks. One of his pupils became an Arahant, and, being aware that his teacher was yet a worldling, went to him and asked his leave to be taught a stanza. However, Mahāsīva said his pupils were so numerous that he had no time to give him a stanza. The pupil waited for a whole day and night, and then getting no chance of learning, said, “If you are so busy now how will you find time to die?” Mahāsīva heard and understood, and exerted himself strenuously for thirty long years, at the end of which time he became an Arahant.