| Vimānavatthu | |
|---|---|
| Type | Canonical text |
| Parent | Khuddaka Nikāya |
| Attribution | Moggallāna;Bhāṇaka |
| Commentary | Paramatthadīpanī (Vimānavatthu-aṭṭhakathā) |
| Commentator | Dhammapāla |
| Abbreviation | Vv |
| Pāli Canon |
|---|
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| Theravāda Buddhism |
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TheVimānavatthu (Vimāna-; abbreviated as "Vv") is aTheravadaBuddhist scripture, the sixth book of theKhuddaka Nikaya in thePali Canon. Its name inPali means "Stories of theVimana," usually translated as 'heavenly abodes' or 'divine mansions'.[1] The Vimanavatthu is an anthology of 83 short stories written in verse, divided into seven chapters orvagga. Each story describes the life and deeds of a character who has attained residence in a heavenly mansion, the "Vimana", due to their meritorious deeds.[1]
Each of the stories in the Vimanavatthu follows the same pattern, using the frame of the Buddha's discipleMahamoggallana asking adeva the reason for their current residence in a divine abode. The deva then relates the good deeds in their previous birth that lead to their rebirth in the divine realm.[1]
The text is generally regarded by scholars as a relatively late addition to thePali Canon, possibly one of the last texts added to theKhuddaka Nikaya before the Canon was closed.[1] Selected texts or stories from the Vimanavatthu may be earlier, a few being composed in the archaicArya metre and others possibly reflecting reworkings of older stories, including borrowings from theJataka collections.[1] Its contents closely resemble a section of theMahavastu, as well as a fragmentarySarvastivada text from theKsudrakagama called the Vimānāvadāna, suggesting an origin in an older collection of stories.[1]
Narratives based on the Vimanavatthu and thePetavatthu, a similar text, were expanded into narratives in the commentary tradition and became a popular source of material for sermons.[2] The collection as a whole was probably directed at lay Buddhists, and present a relatively simple view ofkarma where good deeds are rewarded by promising rebirth.[1] However, many of the devas lament that they did not do even better and becomefully enlightened.
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