• Mātangaputta Thera

The son of Mātanga, 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 Nāga 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 Manipūjaka Thera of the Apadāna. Ap.ii.413f.