Heaven

====Theravada====
===== According to the Aṅguttara Nikāya=====
'''[[Brahmaloka#Buddhism|Brahmāloka]]'''

Here the denizens are Brahmās, and the ruler is [[Mahabrahma|Mahābrahmā]]. After developing the four Brahmavihāras, King Makhādeva rebirths here after death. The monk Tissa and Brāhmana Jānussoni were also reborn here.

The lifespan of a Brahmās is not stated but is not eternal.

'''Parinirmita-vaśavartin''' ([[Pali]]: '''Paranimmita-vasavatti''')

The heaven of devas have "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 seek their favor. The ruler of this world is called Vaśavartin (Pāli: Vasavatti), who has longer life, greater beauty, more power and happiness and more delightful sense-objects than the other devas of his world. This world is also the home of the devaputra (being of a divine race) called [[Mara (demon)|Māra]], who endeavors to keep all beings of the Kāmadhātu in the grip of sensual pleasures. Māra is also sometimes called Vaśavartin, but in general these two dwellers in this world are kept distinct. The beings of this world are 3 [[Li (unit)|lǐ]] ({{convert|4500|ft|m|abbr=in|order=flip|disp=semicolon}}) tall and live for 9,216,000,000 years (Sarvāstivāda tradition).

'''Nirmāṇarati''' (Pali: '''Nimmānaratī''')

The world of devas "delighting in their creations". The devas of this world are capable of making any appearance to please themselves. The lord of this world is called Sunirmita (Pāli Sunimmita); his wife is the rebirth of [[Visakha|Visākhā]], formerly the chief [[Upasaka|upāsikā]] (female lay devotee) of the Buddha. The beings of this world are {{frac|2|1|2}} [[Li (unit)|lǐ]] ({{convert|3750|ft|m|abbr=in|order=flip|disp=semicolon}}) tall and live for 2,304,000,000 years (Sarvāstivāda tradition).

'''[[Tushita|{{IAST|Tuṣita}}]]''' (Pali: '''Tusita''')

The world of the "joyful" devas, it is best known for being the world in which a [[Bodhisattva]] lives before being reborn in the world of humans. Until a few thousand years ago, the Bodhisattva of this world was Śvetaketu (Pāli: Setaketu), who was reborn as Siddhārtha, who would become the Buddha [[Gautama 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 {{IAST|Tuṣita}}, the ruler of this world is another deva called {{IAST|Santuṣita}} (Pāli: Santusita). The beings of this world are 2 [[Li (unit)|lǐ]] ({{convert|3000|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=in|disp=semicolon}}) tall and live for 576,000,000 years (Sarvāstivāda tradition). Anāthapindika, a Kosālan householder and benefactor to the Buddha's order was reborn here.

'''[[Yāma]]'''

The denizens here have a lifespan of 144,000,000 years.

'''[[Trāyastriṃśa]]''' (Pali: '''Tāvatimsa''')

The ruler of this heaven is [[Indra]] or Shakra, and the realm is also called Trayatrimia. Each denizen addresses other denizens with the title "mārisa".

The governing hall of this heaven is called Sudhamma Hall. This heaven has a garden Nandanavana with damsels, as its most magnificent sight.

Ajita, the Licchavi army general, was reborn here. Gopika, the Sākyan girl, was reborn as a male god in this realm.

Any Buddhist reborn in this realm can outshine any of the previously dwelling denizens because of the extra merit acquired for following the Buddha's teachings. The denizens here have a lifespan of 36,000,000 years.

'''[[Four Heavenly Kings|Cātummahārājika]]'''

The heaven "of the Four Great Kings", its rulers are the four Great Kings of the name, {{IAST|Virūḍhaka विरुद्धक}}, {{IAST|Dhṛtarāṣṭra धृतराष्ट्र}}, {{IAST|Virūpākṣa विरुपाक्ष}}, and their leader [[Vaisravana|{{IAST|Vaiśravaṇa वैश्यवर्ण}}]]. The devas who guide the Sun and Moon are also considered part of this world, as are the retinues of the four kings, composed of [[Kumbhanda|{{IAST|Kumbhāṇḍas कुम्भाण्ड}}]] (dwarfs), [[Gandharva|Gandharva गन्धर्व]]s (fairies), [[Naga (mythology)|Nāgas नाग]] (snakes) and [[Yaksha|{{IAST|Yakṣas यक्ष}}]] (goblins). The beings of this world are {{convert|750|ft|m|abbr=in|order=flip}} tall and live for 9,000,000 years (Sarvāstivāda tradition) or 90,000 years (Vibhajyavāda tradition).