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Janavasabha (Sutta)

Janavasabha.– A yakkha, a later birth of King Bimbisāra. He appears before the Buddha at the Giñjakāvasatha in Nātikā and declares his identity. He is on his way as a messenger from Vessavaṇa to Virūḷhaka and reports to the Buddha an account of an assembly of the devas in Tāvatiṃsa which had taken place some time earlier, and which account he claims to have heard from Vessavaṇa.

See the Janavasabha Sutta (below).

Janavasabha is a Stream-winner (sotāpanna) and expresses a wish to be a Once-returner (sakadāgāmi). He says he remembers fourteen lives in all. D.ii.205 f, 207, 214; cp. Janesabha.

Janavasabha Sutta.– Ānanda asks the Buddha at Giñjakāvasatha questions concerning followers of the Buddha in Magadha. The yakkha, Janavasabha (above), appears and says he was once King Bimbisāra and is now reborn into the communion of King Vesākha. He then proceeds to relate a report he had just heard from Vessavaṇa of an assembly of the gods held in Tāvatiṃsa many years earlier, on the full-moon day of Āsāḷha. Sakka presided and there were present also the Four Regent Gods. All the devas rejoiced that their numbers were increasing because so many on earth were following the teachings of the Buddha. Then there appeared in the assembly the Brahmā Sanaṅkumāra in the guise of Pañcasikha; assuming thirty-three forms, he took his place by each god of Tāvatiṃsa and confirmed the glad tidings of the increasing number of devas. He then told them of the four bases of success (iddhipāda) and the three ways to bliss as taught by the Buddha, and of the seven supports for concentration (samādhi-parikkhārā). Then they all sang the praises of the Buddha. D.ii.200 ff. (gr. D.18)