Difference between revisions of "What are the deities in Theravada Buddhism?"
(Created page with " Theravada, like all forms of Buddhism, is chock-full of Deities. First of all all the six Deva realms of the Kamadhatu /Desire realm are ea...") |
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| − | [[Theravada]], like all [[forms]] of [[Buddhism]], is chock-full of [[Deities]]. First of | + | [[Theravada]], like all [[forms]] of [[Buddhism]], is chock-full of [[Deities]]. First of a all the [[six Deva realms]] of the [[Kamadhatu]] /[[Desire realm]] are each filled up with various [[deities]] , which the [[Theravada]] accepts as [[deities]] . Then there are the 16 [[Brahman realms]] filled with [[Brahmah deities]] in |
| − | each of them in ascending orders then there are the four [[formless realms]] with again [[Formless | + | each of them in ascending orders then there are the four [[formless realms]] with again [[Formless Brahma deities]] in each of them. This fact that there are [[deities]] in all these [[Heavenly realms]]/[[Devaloka]] is accepted not only by [[Theravada]] but also all [[forms]] of [[Buddhism]]. |
| − | Here’s a list of various places in the [[Suttas]] where [[Deities]] are mentioned in various places in the [[Theravada]] | + | Here’s a list of various places in the [[Suttas]] where [[Deities]] are mentioned in various places in the [[Theravada]] [[Tri Pitakas]]. By the way, there are more, this is not exhaustive at all:- |
| − | DEVAS /deva/deity/ [[deities]] in [[Theravada]] :- | + | [[DEVAS]] /[[deva]]/[[deity]]/ [[deities]] in [[Theravada]] :- |
| − | 1) The [[devas]] also tell the [[Tathagata]]:- | + | 1) The [[devas]] also tell the [[Tathagata]]:- [[Mahãpadān Sutta]] 1.15 [[Digha Nikaya]] ( when [[monks]] were asking whether the [[Tathâgata]] knew about other people’s [[past life]] etc the answer was The [[Tathâgata]] [[understands]] these things ... by his [[own]] [[penetration]] of the {{Wiki|principles}} of the [[Dhamma]]; and the [[devas]] too have told him. ) |
| − | 2) Eighty thousand | + | 2) [[Eighty thousand devas]] + [[Sakra]] attain srotapnna [[Digha Nikaya]]/ [[Sakkapañya Sutta]] . |
| − | 3) [[Majjhima Nikaya]] , | + | 3) [[Majjhima Nikaya]] , [[Chanki Sutta]] :- [[Chanki]] says that thousands of [[devas]]/ [[deities]] have taken [[refuge]] in the [[Sraman Gautam]] with their [[life]]. |
| − | 4) [[Digha Nikaya]] [[Ambattha Sutta]]:- | + | 4) [[Digha Nikaya]] [[Ambattha Sutta]]:- [[Vajirapani]] the [[Yakkha]]/ [[Vajrapani]] appears to be ready to split [[Ambattha's]] head into seven pieces if he lied to the [[Buddha]] . |
| − | 5) Eighty thousand | + | 5) [[Eighty thousand devas]] + [[Sakra]] attain [[srotapnna]] [[Digha Nikaya]]/ [[Sakkapañya Sutta]] |
| − | 6) [[Majjhima Nikaya]] , | + | 6) [[Majjhima Nikaya]] , [[Chulagosingha Sutta]] :- [[Anuruddha]] could know directly with his [[own mind]] what stage/ level others had reached and [[devas]] also told him |
| − | 7) [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 4th Nipāt , [[Drona | + | 7) [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 4th Nipāt , [[Drona Sutta]] :- |
| + | |||
I'm not a [[deva]] | I'm not a [[deva]] | ||
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| − | (1) | + | (1) [[Gyāti Bali]] |
| − | (2) [[Atithi | + | (2) [[Atithi Bali]] |
| − | (3) [[Purva]] - [[preta | + | (3) [[Purva]] - [[preta Bali]] |
| − | (4) | + | (4) [[Rāj Bali]] |
| − | (5) [[Devatā | + | (5) [[Devatā Bali]] |
| − | 9) | + | 9) [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 5th Nipāt Mundarāj Vaggo :- Hito bahunnam patipajja bhogé [[Devatā]] rakkhati dhammagutam ( whoever is doing the good of the many , that [[protector]] of the [[dharma]] is protected by the [[devas]]/ [[gods]] . |
| − | 10) [[Bali | + | 10) [[Bali grāhak Devatā]] / [[Deities]] who deserve [[offerings]] [[pancha]] [[Bali]] / [[five Bali/Offerings]] :- [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 5 th Nipāt Nivarañ Vaggo :- |
(1) [[mātā]] pitā/parent [[bali]] | (1) [[mātā]] pitā/parent [[bali]] | ||
| − | (2) stri- | + | (2) stri-putra dās kamakar/Family and workers [[Bali]] |
| + | |||
| + | (3) Field tiller [[bali]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | (4) [[Bali]] grāhak [[Devatā]] / [[Deities]] who have taken [[refuge]] and have promised to help in the [[Dharma]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | (5) Shraman [[Brahman]] [[Bali]] | ||
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| − | A) [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 6 th Nipāt [[Devatā]] Vaggo : Chaturmahārajikas and | + | A) [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 6 th Nipāt [[Devatā]] Vaggo : [[Chaturmahārajikas]] and [[Paranirmitavashavarti devas]] who have full [[faith]] in [[Buddha]] [[Dharma]] [[Sangha]] can know I have [[attained]] [[srotapanna]] etc |
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| + | B) [[Anguttara Nikaya]] 7 th Nipāt Avyākrita Vaggo :- [[Brahmakāyika deva]] who are not satisfied with their [[life]] length {{Wiki|colour}} power [[fame]] etc can know whether and how another [[person]] is {{Wiki|liberated}} or not etc . | ||
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| − | + | {{R}} | |
| + | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Theravada Buddhism]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Buddhism]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:39, 10 March 2024
Theravada, like all forms of Buddhism, is chock-full of Deities. First of a all the six Deva realms of the Kamadhatu /Desire realm are each filled up with various deities , which the Theravada accepts as deities . Then there are the 16 Brahman realms filled with Brahmah deities in
each of them in ascending orders then there are the four formless realms with again Formless Brahma deities in each of them. This fact that there are deities in all these Heavenly realms/Devaloka is accepted not only by Theravada but also all forms of Buddhism.
Here’s a list of various places in the Suttas where Deities are mentioned in various places in the Theravada Tri Pitakas. By the way, there are more, this is not exhaustive at all:-
DEVAS /deva/deity/ deities in Theravada :-
1) The devas also tell the Tathagata:- Mahãpadān Sutta 1.15 Digha Nikaya ( when monks were asking whether the Tathâgata knew about other people’s past life etc the answer was The Tathâgata understands these things ... by his own penetration of the principles of the Dhamma; and the devas too have told him. )
2) Eighty thousand devas + Sakra attain srotapnna Digha Nikaya/ Sakkapañya Sutta .
3) Majjhima Nikaya , Chanki Sutta :- Chanki says that thousands of devas/ deities have taken refuge in the Sraman Gautam with their life.
4) Digha Nikaya Ambattha Sutta:- Vajirapani the Yakkha/ Vajrapani appears to be ready to split Ambattha's head into seven pieces if he lied to the Buddha .
5) Eighty thousand devas + Sakra attain srotapnna Digha Nikaya/ Sakkapañya Sutta
6) Majjhima Nikaya , Chulagosingha Sutta :- Anuruddha could know directly with his own mind what stage/ level others had reached and devas also told him
7) Anguttara Nikaya 4th Nipāt , Drona Sutta :-
I'm not a deva
8) Anguttara Nikaya 4 th Nipāt :- there are five Bali karmas done by arya sravakas with what he earns earnestly
(1) Gyāti Bali
(2) Atithi Bali
(3) Purva - preta Bali
(4) Rāj Bali
(5) Devatā Bali
9) Anguttara Nikaya 5th Nipāt Mundarāj Vaggo :- Hito bahunnam patipajja bhogé Devatā rakkhati dhammagutam ( whoever is doing the good of the many , that protector of the dharma is protected by the devas/ gods .
10) Bali grāhak Devatā / Deities who deserve offerings pancha Bali / five Bali/Offerings :- Anguttara Nikaya 5 th Nipāt Nivarañ Vaggo :-
(2) stri-putra dās kamakar/Family and workers Bali
(3) Field tiller bali
(4) Bali grāhak Devatā / Deities who have taken refuge and have promised to help in the Dharma
11) Deities /devas who know I'm srotapanna etc:-
A) Anguttara Nikaya 6 th Nipāt Devatā Vaggo : Chaturmahārajikas and Paranirmitavashavarti devas who have full faith in Buddha Dharma Sangha can know I have attained srotapanna etc
B) Anguttara Nikaya 7 th Nipāt Avyākrita Vaggo :- Brahmakāyika deva who are not satisfied with their life length colour power fame etc can know whether and how another person is liberated or not etc .
