Maternal uncle of Vijitasena Thera and brother of Sena. He was an elephant-trainer, and having heard the Buddha teach, he entered the Order and, in due course, became an Arahant. He ordained Vijitasena (ThagA.i.424).

According to the Mahāvastu (iii.60 ff), Sāriputta was converted to Buddhism not by Assaji, as recorded in the Tipiṭaka, but by an elder named Upasena, who is, perhaps, to be identified with the Upasena. The Mahāvastu (iii.431 f) also mentions an Upasena who was nephew to the Tebhātika Jatiḷā. When the Tebhātika Jatiḷā accepted the Buddha as their teacher, they cast the garments, etc., which they had used as ascetics, into the Nerañjarā, on the banks of which was Upasena’s hermitage. When Upasena saw the robes, etc., he knew that something must have happened to his uncles. He went at once to see them and, having heard the good tidings of their new found bliss became a monk himself. It is not stated whether this Upasena is identical with the elder of the same name mentioned above as the teacher of Sāriputta.