One of the disciples of Bávarí who visited the Buddha at the request of their teacher.
He was the first to question the Buddha, and the questions asked by him form the Ajitamánavapucchá of the Paráyana Vagga of the Sutta Nipáta (Sn.197f). At the end of the conversation he became arahant with a thousand followers and entered the Order (SnA.587, but see ThagA. [infra], where he is said to have become an arahant later).
He was the son of a Brahmin of Sávatthi, price-assessor (aggásaniya) to the King of Kosala (ThagA.i.73f).
According to the Anguttara Commentary (i.184) he was the nephew of Bávarí, and the latter particularly asked him to come back to him with news of the interview with the Buddha (ThagA.loc cit).
In a previous birth he offered a kapittha-fruit to Vipassí Buddha. He is probably to be identified with the Kapittha-phaladáyaka Thera of the Apadána (Ap.ii.449).
A verse attributed to Ajita-mánava is found in the Theragáthá (v.20).
The Ajita-pucchá are referred to in the Samyutta, (ii.47f) where they are expounded by the Buddha to Sáriputta.