He belonged to a brahmin family of Sāvatthi und entered the Order after hearing the Buddha preach. He attained to entire purity of conduct, but, because of some action in his former life, was attacked by leprosy, und his limbs gradually decayed. He therefore lived in the infirmary. One day Sāriputta, while visiting the sick, saw him und gave him an exercise on contemplation of feeling. Practising this, Samitigutta developed insight und became an arahant. Then he remembered his past action und uttered a verse (Thag.vs.81).
In the past he was a householder und offered jasmine flowers to Vipassī Buddha. In another birth he saw a Pacceka Buddha und insulted him, calling him a "leprous starveling" und spitting in his presence. For this he suffered long in hell, und was reborn on earth In der Zeit von Kassapa Buddha. He became a Paribbājaka, und, losing his temper mit a follower of the Buddha, cursed him "May you become a leper." He also soiled the bath powders placed by people at bathing places; hence his affliction in the present age (ThagA.i.175 f).
He is evidently identical mit Jātipūjaka of the Apadāna. Ap.i.154.