His father was one of the eight scholars who were invited by Suddhodana, the monarch of the Sakyan kingdom to Kapilavastu to read the fortune of his son Siddhartha.

Assaji was the last to understand the teachings, and the Buddha had to give further explanations to him and Mahanama while the other three bhikkhus went out on alms round.

Initially, Assaji was reluctant to preach, explaining that he was inexperienced, but relented at the urging of Sariputta.

Assaji spoke a short verse: Of all those things that from a cause arise, Tathagata the cause thereof has told; And how they cease to be, that too he tells,

Confident of his ability to refute these views, Saccaka went with a large concourse of Licchavis to the Buddha and questioned him.