According to common belief, Saman may have been a king or a provincial ruler (Mahasumana) of Saparagamuva from the Deva clan, one of the four main clans in ancient Sri Lanka. According to the tradition of Sammuthi Deva (considered a deity by common acceptance), he is revered as a deity. Another legend discloses that he was a prince who was a younger brother of King Ravana, who ruled Sri Lanka 6000 BC. Following his death, Prince Sumana Saman became a god, by the name of God Maha Sumana Saman. He is also thought to have been a Deva (god) of the heavens, who later became the preciding deity of Sri Pada. Some also relate him to the Mahāyāna bodhisattva Samantabhadra.