One view states that he became the highest ranked monk by preaching the Three Shastras when people suffered from drought in the summer of that year, whereas others believe it was Emperor Kotoku who offered him the position.
同じ年の夏は旱魃となり、その際、三論を講じて僧正に任じられたというが、一説によれば孝徳天皇のときに僧正に任じられたともいう。