Space is as necessary to stars as black is to white. Where do the celestial devas live? "Heaven" (sagga) in Buddhism is always understood to be plural. It is not a place, but rather many literal places. These planes of existence, taken as a general category, begin on Earth (among dryads and other unseen beings) and extends deep into the sky, space, ether, which are all synonyms for "akasha."
Deva definition
deva: "deity," "god," "godling," "good spirit," "angel" in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism from Sanskrit deva, originally "a shining one," or self-luminous "subtle light being," from *div- "to shine," "to sport," "to play" thus cognate with Greek dios "divine" and Zeus, and Latin deus "god" (Old Latin deivos). Feminine form devi is used for "goddess," also (with capital D-) for the Mother Goddess in Hinduism. Hence, also, devadasi "temple dancing girl," literally "female servant of a godling," from dasi "slave girl." Also Devanagari, the formal alphabet of Sanskrit writings, perhaps originally "divine city script," from nagara "city."
The Heavens
The following four worlds are bounded planes, each 80,000 yojanas square [1 yojana is estimated to equal 7 miles], which float in the air above the top of mythical Mount Sumeru. Although all of the worlds inhabited by devas (the worlds down to the Realm of the Four Great Kings, which corresponds to the earthly sky in the four cardinal directions) and sometimes even asuras, are sometimes called "heavens," in the Western sense of the word, the term best applies to these four planes:
The following four worlds are bounded planes, each 80,000 yojanas square [1 yojana is estimated to equal 7 miles], which float in the air above the top of mythical Mount Sumeru. Although all of the worlds inhabited by devas (the worlds down to the Realm of the Four Great Kings, which corresponds to the earthly sky in the four cardinal directions) and sometimes even asuras, are sometimes called "heavens," in the Western sense of the word, the term best applies to these four planes:
Parinirmita-vaśavartin or Paranimmita-vasavatti (Tibetan, gzhan.'phrul dbang.byed) – The heaven of devas "with power over (others') creations." These devas do not create pleasing forms that they desire for themselves, but their desires are fulfilled by the acts of other devas who wish for their favor. The ruler of this world is called Vaśavartin (Pāli: Vasavatti), who enjoys
- longer life
- greater beauty
- more power
- more happiness
- more delightful sense-objects
than the other devas of his world. This world is also the home of a devaputra ("son of god" or "born among devas") named Māra (a Cupid rather than the legendary figure Namuci found in the sutras), who endeavors to keep all beings of the Sensual Realm (kāma-dhātu) in the grip of attachment to sensuality. Māra although distinct is also sometimes called Vaśavartin. The beings here tall and extremely long lived years. The height of this world is posited at 1,280 yojanas above the Earth.
Nirmāṇarati or Nimmānaratī (Tibetan, 'phrul.dga') – The plane of devas "delighting in their creations." The devas of this world are capable of making any appearance to please themselves. The supreme being in this world is called Sunirmita (Pāli, Sunimmita). His wife is the rebirth of Visākhā, formerly the chief of the upāsikās (female lay devotees) of the Buddha. The beings of this world are tall and extremely long lived, although less so than higher worlds. The height of this world is posited at 640 yojanas above the Earth.
Tuṣita (Tibetan, dga'.ldan) – The world of "joyful" devas. This world is best known for being the world in which a bodhisattva (buddha-to-be) lives before being reborn in the human world. Until a few thousand years ago, the Bodhisattva in this world was Śvetaketu (Pāli, Setaketu), who was reborn as Siddhārtha, who would became the Buddha Śākyamuni. Since then the Bodhisattva has been Nātha (or Nāthadeva) who will be reborn as Ajita and will become the Buddha Maitreya (Pāli, Metteyya). While this bodhisattva is the foremost of the dwellers in Tuṣita, the ruler of this world is another deva named Santuṣita (Pāli, Santusita). The beings of this world are tall and extremely long lived. The height of this world is posited at 320 yojanas above the Earth.
Yāma (Tibetan, 'thab.bral) – Sometimes called the "heaven without fighting" because it is the lowest of the celestial planes to be physically separated from the tumult of the Earth. The devas here live in the air, free of all difficulties. Its ruler is the deva Suyāma. According to some sources, his wife is the rebirth of Sirimā, a courtesan of Rājagṛha (Pali, Rajagaha) in the Buddha's time, who was generous to Buddhist monastics. The beings on this plane are extremely tall and long lived. The height of this world is posited at 160 yojanas above the Earth.
Worlds of Mt. Sumeru (Pali, Sineru)
The axis-mundi, Mt. Sumeru is an immense, strangely shaped peak that rises in the center of the Earth and around which the Sun and Moon revolve. Its base rests in a vast ocean, and it is surrounded by several rings of lesser mountain ranges and oceans. The three worlds listed below are all located on or around Sumeru: The Trāyastriṃśa devas live on its peak, the Cāturmahārājikakāyika devas live on its slopes, and the Asuras live in the ocean at its base. Sumeru and its surrounding oceans and mountains are the home not just of these deities, but also vast assemblies of beings of popular mythology who only rarely intrude on the human world.
Worlds of Mt. Sumeru (Pali, Sineru)
The axis-mundi, Mt. Sumeru is an immense, strangely shaped peak that rises in the center of the Earth and around which the Sun and Moon revolve. Its base rests in a vast ocean, and it is surrounded by several rings of lesser mountain ranges and oceans. The three worlds listed below are all located on or around Sumeru: The Trāyastriṃśa devas live on its peak, the Cāturmahārājikakāyika devas live on its slopes, and the Asuras live in the ocean at its base. Sumeru and its surrounding oceans and mountains are the home not just of these deities, but also vast assemblies of beings of popular mythology who only rarely intrude on the human world.
Trāyastriṃśa or Tāvatiṃsa (Tibetan, sum.cu.rtsa.gsum.pa) – The world "of the Thirty-three (devas)" is a wide, flat space on top of Mount Sumeru, filled with the gardens and palaces of the devas. Its ruler is Śakra (Pali, Sakka, "king of the gods") devānām indra, "lord of the devas." (He also rules over the Realm of the Four Great Kings and therefore is called "king of kings"). Besides the eponymous Thirty-three devas, many other devas and supernatural beings dwell here, including the attendants of the devas and many apsarases (nymphs). The beings of this world are very tall (3/4 of a yojana) and long lived. The height of this world is posited at 80 yojanas above the Earth.
Cāturmahārājikakāyika or Cātum-mahā-rājika (Tibetan, rgyal.chen bzhi) – "The Realm of the Four Great Kings" is found corresponding to the lower slopes of Mount Sumeru, though some of its inhabitants live in the air around the mountain. Its rulers are the four Great Kings each in charge of a cardinal direction:
- Virūḍhaka
- Dhṛtarāṣṭra
- Virūpākṣa
- Vaiśravaṇa (their leader)
Some texts assign other beings to the Four Great Kings, including pretas (ghosts), suparnas/garudas (griffins), and bhumi devas (tree spirits). The devas who guide the Sun (Surya) and Moon (Chandra) are also considered part of this world, as are the retinues or subjects of the four kings, consisting of:
- Kumbhāṇḍas (dwarfs)
- Gandharvas (fairies)
- Nāgas (dragons)
- Yakṣas (goblins)
The beings in this realm are very tall and long lived. The height of this world is from sea level up to 40 yojanas above the Earth.
Asura (Tibetan, lha.ma.yin) – The world of the Asuras is the space at the foot of Mount Sumeru, much of which is a deep ocean. This is not their original home. It is where they found themselves after they were cast out, drunken, from Trāyastriṃśa, where they had formerly lived. (Sura is an alcoholic beverage, and a-sura may derive from their swearing off it as a result of being cast out of that heaven). The Asuras are always fighting the devas to regain their lost kingdom at the top of Mount Sumeru. But they are unable to break the guard of the Four Great Kings.
Asuras are divided into many groups, and have no single ruler. But among their leaders are Vemacitrin (Pāli, Vepacitti) and Rāhu. To confound matters, it is said that Sakka, King of the Devas, is married to an Asura.
