He was a Sakyan of Kapilavatthu. When the Buddha visited his kinsmen and showed them his power, Uttiya was converted and entered the Order. One day, while begging in the village, he heard a woman singing and his mind was disturbed. Checking himself, he entered the vihāra much agitated and spent the siesta, seated, striving with such earnestness that he won Arahantship (Thag.v.99; ThagA.i.202-3).

In the time of Sumedha Buddha he was a householder and gave to the Buddha a bed, complete with canopy and rug.

Twenty world-cycles ago he was three times king under the name of Suvannābha.

He is probably identical with Pallaṅkadāyaka of the Apadāna (Ap.i.175).