Varuṇa

Page last updated on 8 October, 2020

Varuṇa

1. Varuṇa.– One of the chief lay disciple’s of Sumana Buddha. Bu.v.28.

2. Varuṇa.– Son of Revata Buddha and also his chief disciple. His mother was Sudassanā (Bu.vi.18, 21; J.i.35). Once, when he was ill, large numbers of people came to see him, and he taught them on the three characteristics, ordaining one hundred thousand persons by the “ehi bhikkhu” ordination. BuA.134.

3. Varuṇa.– The personal attendant of Anomadassī Buddha. J.i.36; Bu.viii.22; DhA.i.88, etc.

4. Varuṇa.– The personal attendant of Paduma Buddha. Bu.ix.21; J.i.36.

5. Varuṇa.– Sixteen world-cycles ago there were eight kings of this name, all previous births of Malitavambha (Kumudadāyaka) Thera. ThagA.i.211; Ap.i.180.

6. Varuṇa.– A disciple of Piyadassī Buddha. ThagA.i.75, 273.

7. Varuṇa.– A brahmin, a former birth of Suppiya Thera. ThagA.i.93; Ap.ii.452.

8. Varuṇa.– A king of fifty-one world-cycles ago, a previous birth of Sayanadāyaka Thera. Ap.i.99.

9. Varuṇa.– One hundred and sixty world-cycles ago there were two kings of this name, previous births of Sucintita Thera. Ap.i.115.

10. Varuṇa.– A king of forty world-cycles ago, a previous birth of Ekasaññaka Thera. Ap.i.121.

11. Varuṇa.– A king in the time of Atthadassī Buddha, a previous birth of Sīvalī (Ekāsaniya) Thera. Ap.i.149 calls him devarājā; ThagA.i.139 calls him ekarājā.

12. Varuṇa.– grain watcher (yavapālaka) who gave grass to Siddhattha Buddha for his seat. BuA.185.

13. Varuṇa.– A brahmin village, residence of the brahmin Vasabha. BuA.172.

14. Varuṇa.– A king of twenty-five world-cycles ago, a former birth of Piliṇḍavaccha Thera. ThagA.i.52; Ap.i.59.

15. Varuṇa.– A Nāga king in the time of Anomadassī Buddha, a previous birth of Mahā-Moggallāna. He played music to the Buddha and entertained him in his abode. Ap.i.31.

16. Varuṇa.– An ascetic who, together with the hunter Sura, discovered intoxicating liquor. This came to be called Vāruṇī. See Kumbhakāra Jātaka, J.v.12 f.

17. Varuṇa.– A Nāga king. His wife was Vimalā and their daughter was Irandatī. For details see Vidhurapaṇḍita Jātaka. Varuṇa is identified with Sāriputta. J.vi.329.

18. Varuṇa.– A king of the devas, mentioned as the companion of Sakka, Pajāpati and Isāna. In battle against the Asurā, the devas of Tāvatiṃsa were asked to look upon the banner of Varuṇa to have dispel their fears. (S.i.219).

In the Tevijja Sutta (D.i.244; cf. J.v.28; vi.20; also Mil. 22) Varuṇa is mentioned with Indra, Soma, Isāna, Pajāpati, Yama and Mahiddhi, as the gods invoked by brahmins.

In the Āṭānāṭiya Sutta (D.iii.204) he is mentioned with Indra and others as a Yakkha chief.

Buddhaghosa says (SA.i.262) that Varuṇa is equal in age and glory (vaṇṇa) with Sakka and takes the third seat in the assembly of devas.