He was once a minister of Saddhátissa. Having gone to Kottasála on official business he gave to a monk the food prepared by the people for him. He was then born in Vallaváhagáma and was called Sumana. Later he entered the Order in Bráhmanáráma and became an arahant. A deity of a timbaru-tree provided him and 500 companions with food during the Brahmanatiya famine. Later, during their travels near Kandarájika, the monks, about to eat, had doubts regarding the time because the sun was hidden. Tambasumana threw a stone into the sky, and, making it shine like the sun, dispelled their doubts. The spot came to be called Manisúriya.
On another occasion, at Cullataválagáma, he converted a whole river into ghee from the ford of Válagáma-vihára to Bhuttakatittha, a distance of two yojanas. Ras.ii.24f.