Vimāna Vatthu

Stories of Heavenly Mansions

Throne Mansion

(Arahant Moggallana asks a deva about previous good karma.)

Second Throne Mansion

(Giving always gives results)

Third Throne Mansion

(Even offering a simple thing to the Sangha can give great results.)

Fourth Throne Mansion

(Arahant Moggallana asks a deva how he received a throne made of beryl gemstones.)

Elephant Mansion (Kuñjara Sutta)

(Offering a chair with a confident heart to those free from defilements will bring great happiness.)

Ship Mansion

(Arahant Moggallana asks a deva how she gained a golden roofed ship as her mansion)

Second Ship Mansion

(Offering water to the Noble Sangha will bring much happiness)

Third Ship Mansion

(A deva explains the merit accumulated when she offered water to a monk who had fallen.)

Lamp Mansion

(A deva explains the merit accumulated when offering light so that others may see.)

Sesame-Gift Mansion

(Even a small offering of sesame seeds to the Supreme Buddha brings much merit.)

Honest Wife Mansion

(A deva explains the benefits of staying faithful to one’s spouse and being honest.)

Second Honest Wife Mansion

(A deva explains how keeping the precepts and being a follower of the Supreme Buddha can bring happiness.)

Daughter-in-Law Mansion

(Giving just a single oil cake to the noble Sangha results in much merit.)

Second Daughter-in-Law Mansion

(A deva explains how offering a honey covered cake led her to the heavenly Nandana Park.)

Uttara’s Mansion

(Living a restrained life, keeping the precepts, and being generous will only bring good results.)

Sirimā’s Mansion

(The wife of King Bimbisara, now a deva, explains her unshakable confidence in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.)

Kesakari’s Mansion

(God Sakka asks what merit helped a deva become as radiant as a Brahma.)

Servant Girl’s Mansion

(Only those who do good, wholesome deeds are reborn in heaven.)

Lakhuma’s Mansion

(A deva explains how she attained the fruit of once returner.)

Rice-Crust Giver’s Mansion

(God Sakka asks Arahant Kassapa about a lady who offered alms to him.)

Low-Caste Woman’s Mansion

(The Supreme Buddha with utmost compassion helps a low caste woman before her death.)

Lovely Lady’s Mansion

(The Supreme Buddha asks a deva how she gained a rare tree near her heavenly mansion.)

Sonadinna’s Mansion

(A deva explains how delighted she was to keep her precepts and give generously.)

Uposatha’s Mansion

(A deva explains her regret in not developing her mind further.)

Saddha’s Mansion

(A deva explains the benefits of having unshakable faith in the Triple Gem.)

Sunanda’s Mansion

(One can gain much happiness by observing the precepts and giving alms to the Noble Sangha.)

Alms Giver’s Mansion

(A deva explains how she gained a beautiful body.)

Splendid Mansion

(A deva explains the happiness gained from offering a single oil cake to Arahant Moggallana.)

Sugar-Cane Mansion

(Offering even a small piece of sugar cane can bring much happiness.)

Couch Mansion

(A deva explains the happiness one can achieve by being a good wife, following precepts and restraining one’s self.)

Rajjumala’s Mansion

(A deva tells the story of how she was on the verge of suicide when the compassionate Supreme Buddha helps her)

Honoring Mansion

(A deva explains how worshiping and honoring monks can lead to much merit.)

Mansion of Yellow Flowers

(God Sakka asks another deva what meritorious actions he did to gain happiness.)

Mango Mansion

(What does one gain when offering a monastery to the order of monks?)

Four Women Mansion

(Arahant Moggallana asks four devas what meritorious actions they did to gain such radiant bodies.)

Monastery Mansion

(Rejoicing at someone else’s meritorious deed can bring much happiness.)

Rice-Gruel-Giver’s Mansion

(A deva explains the happiness he gained from offering medicine to the Supreme Buddha.)

Aloma’s Mansion

(Offering even a small lump of rice cake to the Supreme Buddha will bring much happiness.)

Elephant Mansion (Nāga Sutta)

(A deva offers a pair of robes to the Buddha and gains much happiness.)

Shining Mansion

(Devas who possess strong confidence in the Supreme Buddha outshine other devas.)

Crimson Mansion

(A servant offers flowers to the Supreme Buddha and gains much happiness.)

Coral Tree Mansion

(A deva explains the results of offering a garland of flowers to the Supreme Buddha.)

Mansion of the Beautiful-Eyed Goddess

(Following the precepts, leading a restrained life, practicing generosity, and having faith can bring much happiness.)

Mallika’s Mansion

(Can offerings to the Supreme Buddha after his passing away still give good results?)

Sesavati’s Mansion

(A deva explains the happiness he gained after offering flowers during the funeral of Arahant Sariputta.)

Dazzling Mansion

(Devas discuss the importance of thinking about the Noble Sanga when giving alms instead of individual monks.)

Guttila’s Mansion

(Multiple devas discuss the what meritorious actions they did to gain happiness.)

Lata’s Mansion

(The daughters of God Sakka explain how they gained such happiness as devas.)