Asita was a hermit ascetic of ancient India in the 6th century BCE. He is best known for having predicted that Prince Siddhattha of Kapilavatthu would either become a great king (chakravartin) or become a supreme religious leader (Buddha).
According to legend, Asita noticed the 32 signs of a great man on the Buddha, which shows that this concept pre-dates Buddhism. (Sutta Nipata 3.11)