The Vimanavatthu of the Khuddaka Nikaya is a collection of 83 stories in verse describing the vimana [vimaana] — a kind of personal heavenly mansion — inhabited by beings reborn as gods or goddesses ( devata [devataa] ) as a reward for meritorious deeds performed by them as human beings. All the stories follow a similar pattern. They begin with an introductory verse (or verses) in which the god or goddess is asked about the cause for his or her rebirth within that particular mansion. The deva thereupon relates his or her previous good deeds.
— John D. Ireland, in Vangisa: An Early Buddhist Poet
Selected suttas
In the passages listed below the translator appears in the square brackets [].
-
Vv 1.16: Sirima — Sirima's Mansion
{
Vv 136-148
}
[
Ireland
].
The deva Sirima, an entertainer in her previous human birth, explains to Ven. Vangisa how she learned the Dhamma and became a stream-enterer.
-
Vv 3.7: Sesavati — Sesavati's Mansion
{
Vv 647-658
}
[
Ireland
].
The deva Sesavati tells Ven. Vangisa how paying her respects to Ven. Sariputta in her previous life was enough to ensure rebirth in a glorious deva realm. This is an example of early Buddhist poetry with a purely devotional message.
