One of the group of five ascetics (pañcavaggiyā). He was the son of Vāseṭṭha, a brahmin of Kapilavatthu. When Asita declared that Prince Siddhattha would become a Buddha, Vappa and four other brahmins, headed by Koṇḍañña, became recluses. Vappa was with the Buddha during the six years of his ascetic practices, but being disappointed when the Buddha began taking solid food, he left him and went to Isipatana, where the Buddha, after his Enlightenment, taught them the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. On the fifth day after, Vappa and his companions became Arahants, at the end of the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta. Vappa became a Stream-winner on the second day of the quarter (AA.i.84); pāṭipadadivase, says ThagA. (loc. infra) and MA.i.390.

Vappa’s resolve to be among the first of the Buddha’s followers was taken in the time of Padumuttara Buddha. In the past, he was sixteen times king, under the name of Mahādundubhi.

ThagA.i.140 f; a verse attributed to him is found in Thag.61); see also J.i.82; Dpv.i.32; Vin.i.12.