deva (lit: the Radiant Ones; related to Lat. deus): heavenly beings, deities, celestials, are beings who live in happy worlds, and who, as a rule, are invisible to the human eye. They are subject, however, just like all human and other beings, to ever-repeated rebirth, old age and death, and thus are not freed from the cycle of existence and from misery. There are many classes of heavenly beings.

I. The 6 classes of heavenly beings of the sensuous sphere (kāmāvacara  or kāma-loka; s. avacara loka), are Cātumahārājika-deva, Tāvatiṃsa, Yāma, Tusita  (s. Bodhisatta), Nimmāna-rati, Paranimmita-vasavatti. Cf. anussati. (6).

II. The heavenly beings of the fine-material sphere (rūpāvacara or rūpaloka) are:

1. Brahma-pārisajja, Brahma-purohita, Mahā-brahmāno (s. brahma-kāyika-deva). Amongst these 3 classes will be reborn those with a weak, medium or full experience of the 1st absorption (jhāna, q.v.).

2. Parittābha, Appamānābha, Ābhassara. Here will be reborn those with experience of the 2nd absorption.

3. Paritta-subha, Appamāna-subha, Subha-kiṇṇa (or kiṇha). Here will be reborn those with experience of the 3rd absorption.

4. Vehapphala, Asañña-satta (q.v.), Suddhāvāsa  (q.v.; further s. Anāgāmi). Amongst the first 2 classes will be reborn those with experience of the 4th absorption, but amongst the 3rd class only Anāgāmis (q.v.).

III. The 4 grades of heavenly beings of the immaterial sphere (arūpāvacara or arūpa-loka) are: the heavenly beings of the sphere of unbounded space (ākāsānañcāyatanūpaga-devā), of unbounded consciousness (viññāṇañcāyatanūpaga-deva), of nothingness (ākiñcaññāyatanūpaga devā), of neither-perception-nor- non-perception (nevasaññā-nāsaññāyatanūpaga-devā). Here will be reborn those with experience of the 4 immaterial spheres (arūpāyatana; s. jhāna 5-8).

See Gods and the Universe by Francis Story (WHEEL 180/181).

Buddhist Dictionary, Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, by NYANATILOKA MAHATHERA

Deva

a. Deva.-Aggasāvaka of Sujāta Buddha. He was a chaplain's son, and the Buddha's first sermon was addressed to him and his friend Sudassana (J.i.38; BuA.168, 170). He is also called Sudeva (Bu.xiii.25).

b. Deva.-A devaputta, son of Virūpakkha and brother of Kālakanni (J.iii.261).

c. Deva.-A monk, resident in Kappukagāma (v.l. Kambugāma). Vohārikatissa heard him preach and restored for him five buildings (Mhv.xxxvi.29; Dpv.xxii.41).

This may be the Thera whom Sanghatissa heard preaching the Andhakavinda Sutta. The king, being very pleased with him, set up an offering of gruel to the monks of the Mahāvihāra (Dpv.xxii 50).

d. Deva.-A thera of Ceylon at whose request Upasena wrote the Mahā Niddesa Commentary (MNidA.i.1).

e. Deva.-See also Maliya(Malaya-)-deva and Mahādeva.

f. Deva.-A Thera of Ceylon, who, according to the Gandhavamsa (Gv. p.63), wrote the Sumanakūtavannanā. This work is, however, generally ascribed to Vedeha (P.L.C.223f; Svd.1263).

g. Deva.-Senāpati of Kittisirimegha. He was stationed at Badalatthalī, and accompanied Ratnāvalī when he took the young Parakkamabāhu to Kittisirimegha. Cv.xxvii.82.

h. Deva.-Lankādhināyaka. A general of Gajabāhu II. Cv.lxx.104, 324.

i. Deva.-A general of Parakkamabāhu I. He took part in the campaigns against Gajabāhu, and later was sent to his rescue in Pulatthipura. Deva was imprisoned there, and Parakkamabāhu sent housebreakers to release him, after which he was despatched with an army to Gangātatāka, where he defeated Mānābharana. At Hedillakhandagāma he defeated Mahinda. The last we hear of him is that he fell into his enemy's power at a village called Surulla. Parakkamabāhu went to rescue him, but had to abandon the effort. It is possible that he was ransomed and became Lankāpura. (See below.) Cv.lxx.123, 153-7, 245, 285, 300, 316; lxxii.45, 75, 82, 122, 137f.

j. Deva.-A general of Parakkamabāhu I., called Lankāpura, probably identical with (i). He fought against Sūkarabhātu, and later took part in the Sinhalese expedition to South India and fought in fierce battles at Tirippāluru and Rājinā, capturing the latter place. Cv.lxxv.130; lxxvi.250, 310, 324, 326.

k. Deva.-A minister of āyasmanta. He was sent to erect a vihāra at Valligāma. Cv.lxxx.38.

l. Deva.-A setthi of Vedisagiri. His daughter Devī was married to Asoka, who met her while staying at her father's house on his way to Ujjeni. MT.324; Sp.i.70.

m. Deva. A minister of Devagāma. He once gave food to a starving dog. He was reborn in the same village, and later entered the Order at Pupphavāsa Vihāra. During the Brāhmanatiya famine a tree deity looked after him for twelve years. Once men looking for food wished to kill him, but he was saved by his luck. He became an arahant, and the deity looked after him for twelve years more. Ras.ii.13f.

Dictionary of Pali Proper Names, G P Malalasekera (1899-1973), which is available as printed version from

Deva. A Sanskrit term meaning "bright heavenly being." Originally, the term was used of the polytheistic nature gods of the Vedic pantheon. In Zoroastrianism, the devas became evil powers, demons, who struggle against the good God. The Greek term theos and the Latin deus ("god") both have an etymological connection with deva, as has also diabolus, "devil".

Geddes MacGregor, Dictionary of Religion and Philosophy, New York: Paragon House, 1989

deva (Sanskrit; Pāli, bright, shining). A god or supernatural being, normally resident in one of the numerous heavens and reborn there as the result of good karma. Buddhism inherited the vedic concept of a pantheon of gods, originally 33, but which rapidly expanded in number. The gods are thought to reside on or over Mt. Meru, the cosmic mountain, and to be frequent visitors to the human world, especially to hear the Buddha's teachings. Offerings and sacrifices are made to the gods, and they may be appealed to for help or protection. They enjoy lifespans of hundreds of thousands of years, but are eventually reborn when their good karma is exhausted, and are thus (in contrast to the Buddha) still within the realm of saṃsāra.

A Dictionary of Buddhism, Oxford University Press, 2003, 2004 (which is available in electronic version from answer.com)

deva : [m.] 1. a deity; 2. the sky; 3. a rain cloud; 4. a king.

A.P. Buddhadatta Mahathera, Concise Pali-English and English-Pali Dictionary [available as digital version from Metta Net, Sri Lanka]

Deva [Ved. deva, Idg. *dei̯ā to shine (see dibba & diva), orig. adj. *deiṷos belonging to the sky, cp. Av. daēvō (demon.), Lat. deus, Lith. dë̃vas; Ohg. &slashedZ;īo; Ags. Tīg, gen. Tīwes (=Tuesday); Oir. dia (god). The popular etymology refers it to the root div in the sense of playing, sporting or amusing oneself: dibbanti ti devā, pañcahi kāmaguṇehi kīḷanti attano vā siriyā jotantī ti attho KhA 123] a god, a divine being; usually in pl. devā the gods. As title attributed to any superhuman being or beings regarded to be in certain respects above the human level. Thus primarily (see 1a) used of the first of the next -- world devas, Sakka, then also of subordinate deities, demons & spirits (devaññatarā some kind of deity; snake -- demons: nāgas, tree -- gods: rukkhadevatā etc.). Also title of the king (3). Always implying splendour (cp. above etym.) & mobility, beauty, goodness & light, & as such opposed to the dark powers of mischief & destruction (asurā: Titans; petā: miserable ghosts; nerayikā sattā: beings in Niraya). A double position (dark & light) is occupied by Yama, the god of the Dead (see Yama & below 1 c). Always implying also a kinship and continuity of life with humanity and other beings; all devas have been man and may again become men (cp. D i.17 sq.; S iii.85), hence "gods" is not a coincident term. All devas are themselves in saŋsāra, needing salvation. Many are found worshipping saints (Th i.627 -- 9; Th ii.365). -- The collective appellations differ; there are var. groups of divine beings, which in their totality (cp. tāvatiŋsa) include some or most of the well -- known Vedic deities. Thus some collect. designations are devā sa -- indakā (the gods, including Indra or with their ruler at their head: D ii.208; S iii.90, A v.325), sa -- pajāpatikā (S iii.90), sa -- mārakā (see deva -- manussaloka), sa -- brahmakā (S iii.90). See below 1 b. Lists of popular gods are to be found, e. g. at D ii.253; iii.194. -- A current distinction dating from the latest books in the canon is that into 3classes, viz. sammuti -- devā (conventional gods, gods in the public opinion, i. e. kings & princes J i.132; DA i.174), visuddhi˚ (beings divine by purity, i. e. of great religious merit or attainment like Arahants & Buddhas), & upapatti˚ (being born divine, i. e. in a heavenly state as one of the gatis, like bhumma -- devā etc.). This division in detail at Nd2 307; Vbh 422; KhA 123; VvA 18. Under the 3rd category (upapatti˚) seven groups are enumerated in the foll. order: Cātummahārājikā devā, Tāvatiŋsā d. (with Sakka as chief), Yāmā d., Tusitā d., Nimmānaratī d., Paranimmita -- vasavattī d., Bṛahmakāyikā d. Thus at Di.216 sq.; A i.210, 332 sq.; Nd2 307; cp. S i.133 & J i.48. See also devatā.
  1. good etc. -- (a) sg. a god, a deity or divine being, M i.71 (d. vā Māro vā Brahmā vā); S iv.180=A iv.461 (devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vā ti: I shall become a god or some one or other of the (subordinate gods, angels); Sn 1024 (ko nu devo vā Brahmā vā Indo vāpi Sujampati); Dh 105 (+gandhabba, Māra, Brahmā); A ii.91, 92 (puggalo devo hoti devaparivāro etc.); PvA 16 (yakkho vā devo vā). -- (b) pl. devā gods. These inhabit the 26 devalokas one of which is under the rule of Sakka, as is implied by his appellation S. devānaŋ indo (his opponent is Vepacitti Asur -- indo S i.222) S i.216 sq.; iv.101, 269; A i.144; Sn 346; PvA 22 etc. -- Var. kinds are e. g. appamāṇ' -- ābhā (opp. paritt' ābhā) M iii.147; ābhassarā D i.17; Dh 200; khiḍḍāpadosikā D i.19; gandhabba -- kāyikā S iii.250 sq.; cattāro mahārājikā S v.409, 423; Jat i.48; Pv iv.111; PvA 17, 272; naradevā tidasā S i.5; bhummā PvA 5; manāpa -- kāyikā A iv.265 sq.; mano -- padosikā D i.20; valāhaka -- kāyikā S iii.254. -- Var. attributes of the Devas are e. g. āyuppamāṇā A i.267; ii.126 sq.; iv.252 sq.; dīghāyukā S iii.86; A ii.33; rūpino manomayā M i.410, etc. etc. -- See further in general: D i.54 (satta devā); ii.14, 157, 208; S v.475=A i.37; Sn 258 (+manussā), 310 (id.); 404, 679; Dh 30, 56, 94, 230, 366; Ps i.83 sq.; ii.149; Vbh 86, 395, 412 sq.; Nett 23; Sdhp 240. -- (c) deva=Yama see deva -- dūta (expld at J i.139: devo ti maccu). -- atideva a pre -- eminent god, god above gods (Ep. of the Buddha) Nd2 307; DhsA 2 etc.; see under cpds. -- 2. the sky, but only in its rainy aspect, i. e. rain -- cloud, rainy sky, rain -- god (cp. Jupiter Pluvius; K.S. i.40, n. 2 on Pajjunna, a Catumahārājika), usually in phrase deve vassante (when it rains etc.), or devo vassati (it rains) D i.74 (: devo ti megho DA i.218); S i.65, 154 (cp. It 66 megha); Sn 18, 30; J v.201; DhA ii.58, 82; PvA 139. devo ekam ekam phusāyati the cloud rains drop by drop, i. e. lightly S i.104 sq., 154, 184; iv.289. -- thulla -- phusitake deve vassante when the sky was shedding big drops of rain S iii.141; v.396; A i.243; ii.140; v.114; Vism 259. -- vigata -- valāhake deve when the rain -- clouds have passed S i.65; M ii.34, 42. -- 3. king, usually in voc. deva, king! Vin i.272; iii.43; A ii.57; J i.150, 307; PvA 4, 74 etc.
  devī (f.) 1. goddess, of Petīs, Yakkhiṇīs etc.; see etym. expl. at VvA 18. -- Pv ii.112; Vv 13 etc. -- 2. queen Vin i.82 (Rahulamātā), 272; D ii.14; A ii.57, 202 (Mallikā) J i.50 (Māyā); iii.188; PvA 19, 75.
   -- accharā a divine Apsarā, a heavenly joy -- maiden Vism 531; PvA 46, 279; -- aññatara, in phrase devo vā d. vā, a god or one of the retinue of a god Siv.180= A iv.461; PvA 16; -- âtideva god of gods, i. e. divine beyond all divinities, a super -- deva, of Buddha Nd2 307 & on Sn 1134; J iv.158=DhA i.147; Vv 6427; VvA 18; Miln 241, 258, 368, 384 & passim; cp. M Vastu i.106, 257, 283, 291; -- attabhāva a divine condition, state of a god PvA 14; -- ânubhāva divine majesty or power D ii.12; M iii.120; J i.59; -- āsana a seat in heaven It 76; -- âsurasangāma the fight between the Gods & the Titans Dii.285; S i.222; iv.201; v.447; M i.253; A iv:432 (at all passages in identical phrase); -- iddhi divine power Vv 313; VvA 7; -- isi a divine Seer Sn 1116; Nd2310; -- ûpapatti rebirth among the gods PvA 6; -- orohaṇa descent of the gods DhA iii.443; -- kaññā a celestial maiden, a nymph S i.200; J i.61; VvA 37, 78; -- kāya a particular group of gods S i.200; It 77; Th 2, 31; -- kuñjara "elephant of the gods," of Indra J v.158; -- kumāra son of a god (cp. ˚putta) Jiii.391; -- gaṇa a troop of gods J i.203; DhA iii.441; -- gaha a temple, chapel Vin iii.43; -- cārikā a visit to the gods, journeying in the devaloka VvA 3, 7, 165 etc.; -- ṭṭhāna heavenly seat J iii.55; a temple, sacred place Miln 91, 330; -- dattika given or granted by a god, extraordinary PvA 145; -- dattiya=˚dattika J iii.37; DhA i.278; -- dāruka a species of pine J v.420; -- dundubhi the celestial drum, i. e. thunder D i.10; Miln 178; DA i.95; -- dūtathe god's (i. e. Yama's see above 1˚) messenger A i.138, 142; M ii.75; iii.179; J i.138; DhA i.85 (tayo d.); Mhbv. 122 (˚suttanta); -- deva "the god of gods," Ep. of the Buddha (cp. devâtideva) Th 1, 533, 1278 (of Kappāyana); DhsA 1; PvA 140; -- dhamma that which is divine or a god A iii.277 (˚ika); DhAiii.74; -- dhītā a female deva or angel (cp. devaputta), lit. daughter of a god J ii.57; VvA 137, 153 (with ref. to Vimānapetīs); -- nagara the city of the Devas, heaven J i.168, 202; DhA i.280; -- nikāya a class, community or group of gods, celestial state or condition D ii.261 (sixty enumd); S iv.180; M i.102 sq.; Ai.63 sq.; ii.185; iii.249 sq.; iv.55; v.18; -- pañha questioning a god, using an oracle D i.11 (=DA i.97: devadāsiyā sarīre devataŋ otāretvā pañha -- pucchanaŋ); -- parivāra a retinue of gods A ii.91; -- parisā the assembly of gods A ii.185; Tikp 241. -- putta "son of a god," a demi -- god, a ministering god (cp. f. deva -- dhītā), usually of Yakkhas, but also appld to the 4 archangels having charge of the higher world of the Yāmā devā (viz. Suyāma devaputta); the Tusitā d. (Santusita d.); the Nimmānaratī d. (Sunimmita d.); & the Paranimmitavasavattī d. (Vasavattī d.) D i.217 sq.; cp. J i.48. -- D ii.12, 14; S i.46 sq.; 216 sq.; iv.280; A i.278; It 76; J i.59 (jarā -- jajjara); iv.100 (Dhamma d.); vi.239 (Java d.); PvA 6, 9, 55, 92, 113 (Yakkho ti devaputto); Miln 23; -- pura the city of the gods, heaven S iv.202; Vv 6430 (=Sudassana -- mahānagara VvA 285); J iv.143; -- bhava celestial existence PvA 167; -- bhoga the wealth of the gods PvA 97; -- manussā (pl.) gods & men D i.46, 62≈, 99 (˚mānuse); M ii.38, 55; Sn 14 (sa˚), 236 (˚pūjita), 521; It 80 (˚seṭṭhā); Kh viii.10; KhA 196; PvA 17, 31, 117; -- ˚loka the world of gods and men. It comprises (1) the world of gods proper (Devas, i. e. Sakka, Māra & Brahmā; corresp. to sammuti -- devā, see above); (2) samaṇas & brāhmaṇas (cp. visuddhi -- devā); (3) gods & men under the human aspect (gati, cp. upapatti -- devā): Sn 1047, 1063; expl. at Nd2 309 & (with diff. interpretations) DA i.174 sq.; -- yāna leading to the (world of) the gods, i. e. the road to heaven Sn 139, also in ˚yāniya(magga) D i.215; -- rājā king of the devas, viz. Sakka Nd1 177; J iii.392 (=devinda); DhA iii.441; PvA 62; -- rūpa divine appearance or form PvA 92; -- loka the particular sphere of any devas, the seat of the devas, heaven; there exist 26 such spheres or heavens (see loka); when 2 are mentioned it refers to Sakka's & Brahma's heavens. A seat in a devaloka is in saŋsāra attained by extraordinary merit: Dh 177; J i.202, 203; iv.273; ThA 74; KhA 228; PvA 5, 9, 21, 66, 81, 89; Vism 415, etc.; -- vimāna the palace of a deva J i.58; VvA 173; -- sankhalikā a magic chain J ii.128; v.92, 94; -- sadda heavenly sound or talk among the devas It 75 (three such sounds).

Pali-English Dictionary, TW Rhys Davids, William Stede,

deva: I. m. 天  II. m. 皇天(臣對王的稱呼)

巴漢辭典 編者：(斗六) 廖文燦

deva: A divine being; god.

Sarvastivada Abhidharma, Sanskrit-English Glossary, by Bhikkhu KL Dhammajoti

devá mf(i)n. (fr. 3. div) heavenly, divine (also said of terrestrial things of high excellence) RV. AV. VS. ŚBr. (superl. m. devá-tama RV. iv, 22, 3 &c
• f. devi-tamā, ii, 41, 16)
• m. (according to Pāṇ. 3-3, 120 déva) a deity, god RV. &c.&c
• (rarely applied to) evil demons AV. iii, 15, 5 TS. iii, 5, 4, 1
• (pl. the gods as the heavenly or shining ones
• víśve devā́s, all the gods RV. ii, 3, 4 &c., or a partic. class of deities [see under víśva], often reckoned as 33, either 11 for each of the 3 worlds RV. i, 139, 11 &c. [cf. tri-daśa], or 8 Vasus, 11 Rudras, and 12 Ādityas to which the 2 āśvins must be added Br.
• cf. also cf. Divyâv. 68
• with Jainas 4 classes, viz. bhavanâdhī7śa, vyantara, jyotiṣka, and vaimānika
• devā́nām pátnyas, the wives of the gods cf. RV. cf. VS. cf. Br. [cf. deva-patnī below]) [Page 492, Column 3]
• N. of the number 33 ( above) cf. Gaṇit
• N. of Indra as the god of the sky and giver of rain cf. MBh. cf. R. &c
• a cloud cf. L
• (with Jainas) the 22nd Arhat of the future Ut-sarpiṇī
• the image of a god, an idol cf. Vishṇ
• a god on earth or among men, either Brāhman, priest cf. RV. cf. AV. (cf. bhū-d○), or king, prince (as a title of honour, esp. in the voc. 'your majesty' or 'your honour'
• also ifc., e.g. śrī-harṣa-d○, vikramâṅka-d○, king Śrī-hṭharsha or VikrṭVikramâṅka, and in names as puruṣôttama-d○ [lit. having Vishṇu as one's deity
• cf. atithi-d○, ācārya-d○, pitṛ-d○, mātṛ-d○]
• rarely preceding the name, e.g. deva-caṇḍamahāsena cf. Kathās. xiii, 48) cf. Kāv. cf. Pañc. &c. (cf. kṣiti-, nara-, &c.)
• a husband's brother (cf. devṛ and devara) cf. W
• a fool, dolt cf. L
• a child cf. L
• a man following any partic. line or business cf. L
• a spearman, lancer cf. L
• emulation, wish to excel or overcome cf. L
• sport, play cf. L
• a sword cf. Gal
• N. of men cf. VP
• of a disciple of Nāgârjuna cf. MWB. 192
• dimin. for devadatta cf. Pāṇ. 5-3, 83 cf. Vārtt.4 cf. Sch
• (n. cf. L.) an organ of sense cf. MuṇḍUp. iii, 1, 8 ; 2, 7
• (ā), f. Hibiscus Mutabilis or Marsilia Quadrifolia ; (ī́), f. s.v. [Cf. Lat. dīvus, deus ; Lit. de14vas ; Old Pruss. deiwas.]
 

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William