Hell. Descriptions of it are to be found in several places in the four Nikāyas MN.iii.183 AN.i.141–142 It is a quadrangular space, one hundred leagues each way, four-doored, walled all round and abov …

The Wheel Treasure that is one of the seven treasures of a Wheel Turning Monarch (cakkavatti). The Cakkaratana is the Cakkavatti’s chief symbol of office; on its appearance before him, he sprinkles …

A World ruler. The world itself means “Turner of the Wheel,” the Wheel (Cakka) being the well known Indian symbol of empire. More than one thousand sons are his; his dominions extend throughout the …

A Cakkavatti of long ago. When his cakka showed signs of disappearing, he handed the kingdom over to his eldest son and became a hermit. Later he taught his son how he, in turn, could become a Cakka …

MahāmoggallānaMoggallānaKolita

The second of the Chief Disciples of the Buddha. He and Sāriputta went forth as disciples of Sañjaya. After some time, Sāriputta, wandering about in Rājagaha, met Assaj …

The name given to a Great Being, destined to become either a Cakkavatti or a Buddha. He carries on his person the following thirty two marks. DN.ii.17f. DN.iii.142ff. MN.ii.136f. .

1. he has fe …

The name of a people and their country.

The country is included in the sixteen Great Nations of the Buddha’s time. The kingdom, at that time, was divided into two parts, having their respective capit …

MāraNamuciKaṇhaAdhipatiAntakaPamattabandhuPāpimā

Generally regarded as the personification of Death, the Evil One, the Tempter. Sometimes known as the Dark One (Kaṇha). Snp.355 MN.i.377 DN.ii.262 T …

MātulaMatula

A village in Māgadha, where the Buddha stayed and where he preached the Cakkavattisīhanāda Sutta. Aiii.58

Māgadha3town

Nandana¹

A devaputta who visited the Buddha at Sāvatthī and asked him questions regarding virtue, wisdom, etc. The Buddha answered them, and he went away satisfied. SN.i.62

Nandana ^…

A class of devas, inhabitants of the highest stage of the sensuous universe.

They are described AN.i.210 SN.v.410 SN.v.423 DN.ii.91 DN.iii.218 as “beings who desire the creation of others, in order t …

A future king, who will be the Cakkavatti of Ketumatī at the time of the appearance of Metteyya Buddha in the world. He will raise up again the palace of King Mahāpanāda and live there. But later he w …

The name of the Elephant Treasure of the Cakkavatti Mahāsudassana. He was “all white, sevenfold firm (sattappatiṭṭha), wonderful in power, flying through the sky.”. DN.ii.174 MN.iii.173f.

A mythical region. A detailed description of it is given in the Āṭānāṭiya Sutta. DN.iii.199ff. The men who live there own no property nor have they wives of their own; they do not have to work for t …

A devaputta, king of the devas of the Parinimmita-vassavatti world. DN.i.219 Because of his generosity and virtue practised in past births, he surpasses the devas of his world in ten things: divine …