Upali

Born into the sudra caste, Upali was a slave and served as an imperial barber. He became inspired when he saw the princes renouncing. Initially, the thought he would not be allowed to renounce but, not only did the Buddha allow him to do so, he was tonsured before the princes. According to the regulations, the princes were required to pay respect to Upali, who had been ordained earlier. This was the Buddha’s first step toward establishing social equality in opposition to the caste system. After Upali became a monk, he was noted for being foremost in upholding the precepts and recited the Vinaya Pitaka at the First Buddhist Council.