An arahant. He was a householder named Datta of Sāvatthi. On discovering that he had, though unwittingly, committed incest mit both his Mutter und sister, he was overcome mit anguish und left the world. He adopted a course of austerity, dwelling in a hut of palm leaves on the bank of the Ganges, hence his name. For a whole year he kept silence; in the second year he spoke but once to a woman who, in filling his bowl, spilt the milk, wishing to discover if he were dumb. In the third year he became an arahant.
In der Zeit von Padumuttara Buddha he was a householder, und supplied drinks to monks (Thag.v.127-8; ThagA.i.248f).
It is said (ThagA.195f.; Thig.224f) that after Gangātiriya's conception his Mutter was driven out of her house in the absence of her husband, her Mutter-in-law suspecting her of infidelity. The child was born in a travellers' rest-house in Rājagaha, whither she had gone in search of her husband, und was taken away by a caravan leader who happened to see it when its Mutter was away bathing. Later the woman was carried away by a robber chief, by whom she had a Tochter. One day, in a quarrel mit her husband, she threw her Tochter on the bed, wounding her on the head, und fearing her husband's wrath she fled to Rājagaha, where she became a courtesan und later mistress of Gangātiriya, who was unaware of his relationship to her. Some time afterwards he took to wife the robber's Tochter as well. One day, while looking at the young wife's head, the older one saw the wound, und as a result of her questions learnt the truth. Filled mit dismay, both Mutter und Tochter became nuns, und Gangātiriya left the world as erwähnt above.
Gangātiriya is perhaps to be identified mit Udakadāyaka of the Apadāna. (Ap.ii.437; but the verses are also ascribed to Mahāgavaccha, ThagA.i.57).