Vimānavatthu (Pāli, tales of the mansions). The sixth book of the Khuddaka Nikāya of the Pāli Canon. It describes the spendour of the various celestial mansions of the gods and sets out in 83 stories an account of the good moral deeds which led to the gods being reborn in a heavenly paradise. There is a commentary on the work by Dhammapāla, forming part of the Paramatthadīpanī.

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

Vimāna Vatthu

The sixth book of the Khuddaka Nikāya. It describes the splendour of various celestial abodes belonging to different devas, obtained by them as reward for some meritorious act performed in a previous life. The stories were learnt from the devas themselves, by Moggallāna, Vangīsa and others, during their sojourn in the deva-worlds, and reported by them to the Buddha.

A Commentary on the work exists by Dhammapāla, forming part of the Paramatthadīpanī, and sometimes called Vimalatthavilāsinī (q.v.).

Stories from the Vimāna Vatthu were related by Mahinda in Ceylon in his first sermon to Anulā and her five hundred companions. Mhv.xiv.58.

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

vimānavatthu : [nt.] a book containing stories about vimānas.

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