Although it is said that he was born as the third son of a king called Koshi in Nantenjiku (South India) and became the 28th Bodhi Dharma of Buddhism after acquiring the teachings of Hannyatara, the oldest reference to Bodai Daruma is found in the "Rakuyo Garanki", which was compiled by Yogenshi in 547 and whose title was Togi Bugunfu Shima (Bungunfu Shima in Eastern Wei), and the record is regarded as the source of all the legends concerning Daruma.
南天竺国香至王の第三王子として生まれ、般若多羅の法を得て仏教の第二十八祖菩提達磨（ボーディダルマ）になったということになっているが、最も古い菩提達磨への言及は東魏撫軍府司馬楊衒之撰『洛陽伽藍記』（547年）にあり、全ての達磨伝説はここに始まるともいわれている。