He belonged to an eminent brahmin family of Sāvatthi. On the day of the dedication of Jetavana, he saw the majesty of the Buddha and entered the Order, becoming an Arahant soon after. Eighteen world-cycles ago, in the time of Piyadassī Buddha, he left great riches and became an ascetic, dwelling in a sāla grove. Once, seeing the Buddha wrapped in concentration (samādhi), he built a bower over him, and stood there with clasped hands until the Buddha exited from his samādhi. Then, at the Buddha’s wish, the Saṅgha too came to the sāla grove, and in their presence the Buddha predicted the ascetic’s future (ThagA.i.74 f; Thag.21).

Nigrodha is probably identical with Sālamaṇḍapiya of the Apadāna. Ap.ii.431 f; but the same Apadāna verses are also given under Tissa Thera (ThagA.i.273).