One of the great Brahmá. In the time of Kassapa Buddha he was a potter of Vehalinga, looking after his blind parents. He was a very pious and devoted follower of the Buddha, ministering to him better than anyone else, and the Buddha accepted his invitation in preference to that of the king of Benares. It is said that when the Buddha was in need of anything he would go to Ghatíkára's house and take it, whether he were at home or not, so great was his confidence in Ghatíkára's piety. Once, when Ghatíkára was absent, the people, at the Buddha's suggestion, took away the thatch from his house to roof the hut of Tathágata. For three months Ghatíkára's house remained open to the sky, but no rain fell on it, so great was his faith (Mil.223f). According to the Nalapána Játaka (J.i.172), no rain will ever fall on the site of Ghatíkára's' house as long as this kappa lasts.
The Bodhisatta, who at the time of Ghatíkára was a young brahmin named Jotipála, was the friend of Ghatíkára but had no faith in the Buddha, and Ghatíkára, having failed to persuade him to visit the Buddha, in the end took him by force. Jotipála was converted and joined the Order, but Ghatíkára, as the only support of his parents, could not renounce the world. Kikí, king of Benares, having heard of his virtues from Kassapa Buddha, sent him five hundred cartloads of the choicest rice, etc., but Ghatíkára returned the gifts, saying that he had plenty for himself (M.ii.46ff; S.i.35f; Bu.xxv.41; SnA.i.152).
After death, Ghatíkára was born as a Mahábrahmá in the Avihá Brahma-world, and an anágámí. He was evidently already a Sakadágámi before his death (see DhA.i.380), but he did not wish his attainments to be known (AA.i.44).
He provided the Buddha with the eight requisites of a monk when the Buddha, having left the world, decided to lead the life of a bhikkhu (J.i.65; SnA.ii.382; BuA.236; VvA.314). The begging bowl, then provided by him, vanished when the Buddha was given a bowl of milk rice by Sujátá (J.i.69).
According to the Samyutta Nikáya (S.i.35f; 60), Ghatíkára visited the Buddha some time after the Enlightenment and the Buddha reminded him of their former friendship. Ghatíkára, on that occasion, speaks of several others (besides Jotipála) who had been his friends in Vehalinga - Upaka, Phalaganda, Pukkusáti, Bhaddiya, Khandadeva, Báhuraggi and Pingiya. They had listened to the Buddha's teaching and, after death, were born in the Avihá-world, where he himself was. In this context the Buddha addresses him as Bhaggava (q.v.).