A messenger of Kuvera. DN.iii.201

Abhibhū¹

Chief disciple of Sikhī Buddha. DN.ii.9 In the Aruṇavatī Sutta it is said that he went with Sikhī to a Brahma-world and, at the Buddha’s request, preached a sermon to the accompa …

In Pali Literature the Asuras are classed among the inferior deities together with the supaṇṇas, gandhabbas, yakkhas, garuḍas and nāgas. Rebirth as an Asura is considered as one of the four …

One of the 16 Great Nations (Mahājanapadā), mentioned in the Pitakas. The countries mentioned are Aṅga, Māgadha, Kāsī, Kosala, Vajji, Mallā, Ceti, Vaṃsa, Kuru, Pañcāla, Macchā, Sūrasena, Assaka, Avant …

A tree in the Asurabhavana SN.v.238 which lives for a whole aeon.

A class of Asuras, present at the Mahāsamaya. DN.ii.259

A class of semi-divine beings who inhabit the Cātummahārājika realm and are the lowest among the devas. DN.ii.212 They are generally classed together with the Asuras and the Nāgas AN.iv.200 AN.iv.204 …

A class of spirits mentioned with Yakkhas, Asuras and Nāgas. They live in the South and Virūḷha is their king. DN.ii.257 DN.iii.198

KuveraKubera

King of Uttarakuru. His royal residence is Āḷakamandā and his citadel Visāṇā. His messengers are Tatolā, Tattolā, Tatotalā, Ojasi, Tejasi, Tatojasī, Sūra, Rāja, Ariṭṭha and Nemi. His lot …

A class of Asuras. They were present at the Mahāsamaya, and are spoken of as being of a fearsome shape. DN.ii.259 They are the very lowest of the Asura groups, and the Buddha warns Sunakkhatta that Ko …

A country, with its people, included in the traditional list of the sixteen Great Nations AN.i.213 AN.iv.252 AN.iv.256 AN.iv.260

The Macchā country lay to the south or south west of Indraprastha and …

MadhurāMathurā

The capital of Surasena, situated on the Yamunā. Its king, soon after the death of Bimbisāra, was Avantiputta, MN.ii.83 who, judging by his name, was probably related to the royal fami …

The books mention the sixteen Mahājanapadas or Great Nations, which existed in the time of the Buddha. AN.i.213 AN.iv.252 AN.iv.256 AN.iv.260 They are Kāsī, Kosala, Aṅga, Māgadha, Vajji, Mallā, Cetiya …

An Asura chief. DN.ii.259 At the Nalerupucimaṇḍa in Verañja he visited the Buddha. In answer to a question, Pahārāda tells the Buddha that there are eight wonderful characteristics of the ocean, on ac …

RāhuRāhubhadda

An Asura chieftain. The Saṃyutta Nikāya SN.i.49f. says that on one occasion when he seized the Moon god, and on another the Sun god, both these invoked the aid of the Buddha. The Bud …

A Mahābrahmā. When the Buddha was at the Ajapālanigrodha, hesitating as to whether or not he should preach the Dhamma, Sahampati appeared before him and begged of him to open to the world the doors of …

SakkaVatrabhūVāsavaMaghavāMāghaPurindadaSahassakkhaSahassanettaSujampatiKosiya

Almost always spoken of as chief of the devas. The Saṃyutta Nikāya SN.i.229 contains a list of his names.

• Maghavā, be …

An Asura, one of the Dānaveghasas, present at the preaching of the Mahāsamaya Sutta. DN.ii.259

SumāgadhāSumāgavā

A lotus pond near Rājagaha. The Saṃyutta Nikāya mentions the Buddha as relating the story of a man who went to Sumāgadhā with the thought, “I will speculate about the world.” He saw …

A Licchavi prince of Vesāli. He was, at one time, a member of the Order and the personal attendant of the Buddha, but was later converted to the views of Korakkhattiya and went about defaming the Budd …

A devaputta, the sun or the god of the sun. Once, when he was seized by Rāhu, lord of the Asuras, he invoked the power of the Buddha, and the Buddha enjoined on Rāhu to let him go. This Rāhu did, an …

A monks whose Theragāthā verses speak of attaining the goal of the spiritual life. Thag.135–136

Susīma¹

A devaputta. Once, when Ānanda utters high praise of Sāriputta, Susīma, who is present, reflects on it and confirms all that Ānanda has said. The retinue of Susīma listen enraptu …

A Deva. Once, when the Asuras marched against the Devas, Sakka sent for Suvīra and asked him to fight the Asuras. Suvīra agreed to do this, but was very lazy about it. This happened three times. Sakka …

An eminent lay disciple, declared by the Buddha foremost among his followers in unwavering loyalty. AN.i.26 AN.iii.451

One of the sixteen Great Nations. It is mentioned with Maccha, and was located in the south of the Kuru country. Its capital was Mathurā. It is famous in the Epics and the Purānas because of its conne …

TekicchakārīTekicchakāni

A monk whose Theragāthā verses speak of how, by recollecting the triple Gem and the four immeasurables, he overcomes lack of food and comfort. Thag.381–386

A king of the devas, mentioned as the companion of Sakka, Pajāpati and Isāna. In battle against the Asuras, the devas of Tāvatiṃsā were asked to look upon the banner of Varuṇa in order to have all the …

VepacittiSambara

An Asura chieftain, who was present with Namuci (Māra) at the preaching of the Mahāsamaya Sutta. DN.ii.259

Vepacitti was the friend of Rāhu, and when Rāhu seized Candimā and Suriya …

A town in which the Buddha once spent the rainy season at the invitation of the brahmin Verañja. Verañja visits the Buddha at the foot of the Naḷerupucimanda, where he is staying, and asks him a serie …

An Asura chieftain. All the hundred sons of Bali were named after him. DN.ii.259

He is probably identical with Verocana, lord of the Asuras’ who, according to the Saṃyutta Nikāya, SN.i.225f. went w …

One of the chief devas.

In the Tevijja Sutta DN.i.244 he is mentioned with Indra, Soma, Varuṇa, Pajāpati and Brahmā, as being invoked by the brahmins.

He was in the battle of the devas against the A …