He belonged to a rich family of Rājagaha and received his name because he was born free of all dirt. Much impressed by the majesty of the Buddha when the latter visited Rājagaha, Vimala entered the Order, and lived in a mountain cave in Kosala. One day a vast cloud spread over the sky; rain fell, allaying the heat and discomfort, and Vimala, concentrating his mind, attained Arahantship.

He belonged to a family of conch blowers in the time of Vipassī Buddha, and one day honoured the Buddha by playing on his conch shell. He bathed the Bodhi tree of Kassapa Buddha with fragrant water and washed the seats and the clothes of holy monks. Twenty-four world-cycles ago he was king six times, under the name of Mahānigghosa. ThagA.i.121 f; his Udāna verse is included in Thag.vs.50.