What are the Devaputra / Devaputta?
Upvote:4
At least based on the Pali Canon and its commentary, devaputta are precisely what you state: sons of devas with comparable divine powers.
For instance, the Pali Canon's Samyutta Nikaya's second chapter is entitled, "Devaputta Samyutta," and collects discourses involving the Buddha (or one of his disciples) engaging with a devaputta. (You can find free, on-line translations of a few of these discourses at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/index.html#sn2 .) In his introduction to the Wisdom Publication edition of the Samyutta Nikaya, Bhikkhu Bodhi writes:
The devaputtas, or 'sons of the devas,' are young devas newly arisen in their respective heavenly planes; devaduhitās, 'daughters of the devas,' are also mentioned in the commentary but none appear in this saṃyutta. The commentary says these beings are reborn spontaneously in the laps of the devas.... [I]t is surprising to find that several of [the devaputta] — or at least their verses — have already appeared in the Devatāsaṃyutta [which is the preceding chapter in which the Buddha engages with adult devas].... This suggests that the dividing line between the two classes of deities is not a hard and fast one, just as the dividing line between an adult and an adolescent is not hard and fast... (Source: Bodhi, Bhikkhu, 2005-06-10. The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya, Kindle Locations 1285-1293. Perseus Books Group. Kindle Edition.)
Just to note, the referenced commentaries were likely written centuries after the Samyutta Nikaya itself, and thus have significantly less authority. In addition, I know you expressed particular interest in Mahayana tradition and the Pali Canon is most closely aligned with the Theravadan tradition; nonetheless, this canon provides a basis for understanding much of the Mahayana cosmology.
I hope this helps, Larry
More post
- 📝 How can I be sure if the Buddha actually woke up?
- 📝 What does celestial mean in 'celestial bodhisattva'
- 📝 Where do I find a Buddhist retreat in Asia?
- 📝 Semi-consistent Long Sessions Versus Regular Short Sessions
- 📝 Source of Golden Rule quote
- 📝 Ṛta, ritual and Buddhism
- 📝 Not wanting to meditate = bad karma?
- 📝 Sutta references for hindrances and jhana related statements
- 📝 Skillful Buddhist Meditation Teachers
- 📝 Fecal and Urine medicines, what are the recipes?
- 📝 What is mainly uncovered by Analyzing Causes? Anicca or Dukkha or Anatta?
- 📝 Can we define craving without mentioning self?
- 📝 Relationship with bad parents (kamma and issues)
- 📝 Does the Pali word "vinaya" in the suttas always refer to the Vinaya Piṭaka?
- 📝 Vajrayana Buddhism: Teachings the Buddha reserved for "only some individuals"?
- 📝 Harmlessness as the highest form of generosity?
- 📝 Can super Buddhists eat bread?
- 📝 What were Nagarjuna's seminal contributions to Buddhist philosophy?
- 📝 Im making no progress on meditation
- 📝 Vipassana meditation in day to day life
- 📝 The invariant law of nature which forms the basis of Buddha's Dharma and existence of universe itself
- 📝 Loving Communication
- 📝 Is Anapanasati considered Samatha?
- 📝 Karma: Intention vs knowing result of an action
- 📝 What is the difference between love and infatuation?
- 📝 Different transmissions for reciting various versions of a same mantra acc. to any of Vajrayana branches
- 📝 Can one reach enlightenment if they need to care about the wellbeing of another?
- 📝 Emptiness and one taste
- 📝 effectivness of removing triggers for temptations?
- 📝 Are monks better teachers than ex-monks?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What are the Devaputra / Devaputta?
- 📝 What are the differences between vipassana and mindfulness meditation?
- 📝 What are the common buddhist practices to eliminate sleepiness?
- 📝 What are the differences/similarities in the concept of faith as used in Buddhism and Christianity?
- 📝 What are the texts that contain words which can be attributed directly to the Buddha?
- 📝 What are the scientifically proven benefits of mindfulness meditation?
- 📝 What are the other Theravada Councils held between the 4th and 6th
- 📝 What are the Four Noble Truths?
- 📝 What are the differences between "Nirvana" in Buddhism and "Moksha" in Hinduism?
- 📝 What are the main schools of Tibetan Buddhism?
- 📝 What are the three marks of existence?
- 📝 What are the main arguments in favor of the Anātman view over the Ātman view?
- 📝 What are the Core Teachings of Buddhism?
- 📝 What are the Four Immeasurables (aka Four Noble Abodes)?
- 📝 What are the Pali translations for mindfulness?
- 📝 What are the salient differences between the Pāḷi Nikāyas & Chinese Āgamas?
- 📝 What are the advantages/disadvantages of meditating with eyes closed?
- 📝 What are the suttas in which the Buddha provides instruction on how to meditate?
- 📝 What are any and all of the exceptions to eating after noon if you've taken 8 precepts?
- 📝 From a Buddhist point of view, what are the benefits of supernormal powers?
- 📝 What are the core Mahayana and Vajrayana Sutras?
- 📝 What are the resources a Buddhist can use during very hard times?
- 📝 What are the Ānāpānasati Kammaṭṭhāna as Taught By Ven. Kiribathgoda Gnanananda Thero
- 📝 It is said that arahants never dream. What are the textual sources for this claim?
- 📝 What are the soteriological aims of different traditions?
- 📝 What are the twelve aspects of the Four Noble Truths?
- 📝 What are the funeral rites for Tibetan lay Buddhists?
- 📝 What are the steps in Mindfulness of Breathing meditation?
- 📝 What are the Pali or Sanskrit words for these things?
- 📝 What are the requirements or preconditions for someone to ordain?