Trayasthya Heaven

One of the heavens in the Buddhist worldview. Trayastri is an abbreviation of the transliteration of the Sanskrit word Trāyastriśa. The original word means "33," meaning "a world consisting of 33 kinds of heavens (or heavenly gods)," and is loosely translated as "the Thirty-Three Heavens." It is located on the top of Mount Sumeru, and has eight castles on each of the four sides, and the Castle of Good View in the center, for a total of 33 castles. In the Hall of Auspiciousness in the Castle of Good View, the leader of the Thirty-Three Heavens, Taishakuten, lives. This heaven is filled with towers, forests, and fragrant trees, and is a kind of paradise. It belongs to the world of desire, and sexual intercourse is enjoyed. It is said that Shaka's mother was born here after her death, and Shaka visited here to preach to her.

[Akira Sadakata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仏教世界観における天の一つ。忉利はサンスクリット語トラーヤストゥリンシャTrāyastriśaの音訳語の略称。原語は「33」、すなわち「33種の天（または天神）からなる世界」を意味し、「三十三天」と意訳される。須弥山(しゅみせん)の頂上にあり、その東西南北にそれぞれ八つの城、中央に善見城(ぜんけんじょう)、合計33の城を有す。善見城中の殊勝殿(しゅしょうでん)には三十三天の首領である帝釈(たいしゃく)天が住む。この天は楼閣(ろうかく)、苑林(おんりん)、香樹(こうじゅ)に満ち、一種の楽園であり、欲界に属し、性の交わりの享受がある。釈迦(しゃか)の母は死後ここに生まれ、釈迦が彼女に説法するためにここを訪れたという。

［定方　晟］

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