The son of Mátanga, a landowner of Kosala. He was idle, and, when rebuked, joined the monks, hoping thus to have an easy life. But one day he heard the Buddha preach, entered the Order, and not long after became an arahant.
In the time of Padumuttara Buddha he was a mighty Nága king, and, seeing the Buddha travelling through the air, he honoured him by giving him his throat jewel (Thag.vss.231 3; ThagA.i.348ff). He is probably identical with Manipújaka Thera of the Apadána. Ap.ii.413f.