The Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary - Tuninst.net

Vimajjana 89 Vim ana
Vimajjana (nt.) [fr. vi 4- majjati*] making smooth, polishing
M I. 385.
Vima^ba (adj.) [vi + mattha] smoothed, soft, smooth,
polished J v. 96 (°abharana), (C, expl' as " visala "),
204, 400 (of ornaments). —ubhato-bhaga° polished or
smooth on both sides M i. 385 ; A v. 61 =M 11. 13 (has
°maddha).
Vimata (adj.) [fr. vi + man] perplexed, in doubt J v. 340.
Vimati (f) [vi + mati] doubt, perplexity, consternation
D 1. 105; S IV.327; A 11.79. 185; Ap 29; Dhs 425;
J III. 522 ; Miln 119, 144, 339; DA 1.274.
Vimada (adj.) [vi + mada] disintoxicated. without conceit
J V.158 (taken as " unconscious " by C).
Vimaddana (nt.) [vi + maddana] crushing, destroying
VvA 232.
Vimana (adj.) [vi + mano] i. perplexed, consternated
Miln 23, 118; PvA 274. — 2. infatuate Th 2, 380.
3. distracted, distressed Th i, 1051 ; J vi.523.
Vimariyadikata (adj.) [vi + mariyada + kata] lit. made
unrestricted, i. e. delivered, set free S 11173; 111.31
(vippamutto °ena cetasa viharati) ; vi.ii ; A v 151 sq.
— At Th I, 184 V. 1. for vipariyadi".
Vimala (adj.) [vi + mala] without stains, spotless, unstained,
clean, pure A iv. 340 ;
(op. Nd« 586) ; J 1.18 ; Miln 324 ; DhA
Sn 378, 476, 519. 637, 1131
iv.192.
Vimalayaka [cp. Sk. vimalaka] a certain precious stone of
dark -blue colour VvA 1 1 1
Vimina^ (nt.) [in the Pali meaning not V«di&. Pound in
meaning " palace-chariot " in the Mbharata and elsewhere
in Epic Sk.] lit. covering a certain space, measuring
; the def" given by Dhpala refer it to " without
measure," i. e. immeasurable. Thus =vigata-mane
appamane mahanta vara-pasada VvA 131 ; =visitthamanai),
pamanato mahantar) VvA 160. — Appl'' meaning
: heavenly (magic) palace, a
elysium. — i. General remarks: (a)
kind of paradise,
The notion of the
vimana is peculiar to the later, fantastic parts of the
Canon, based on popular superstition (Vimana & Peta
V«tthu, Apadana, Jataka and similar fairy tales). It
shows distinct traces of foreign (Hellenic-Babylonian)
influence and rests partly on tales of sea-faring merchants
(cp. location of V. in mid-ocean). On the other hand
it represents the old (Vedic) ratha as chariot of the gods,
to be driven at will (cp. below 5, 7. 8). Thus at Vv 16
(here as 500 chariots !). 36. 63. O4 ; J 1.59 (deva-vimanasadisa
ratha). — (6) The vimanas are in remote parts
of the world (cp. the island of the blessed), similar to
the elysium in Homer's Odyssey, e. g. iv.563 sq. : ir'tj,-
'HXyffioi^ TTtdiov Koi ir i i par a yairji- d9al'aT0i 7r^^;//0t'(7(f
etc. (trsl" G. Chapman : " the immortal ends of all the
earth, the fields Elysian Fate to thee will give ; where
Rhadamanthus rules, and where men live a nevertroubled
life, where snow, nor show'rs. por irksome
winter spends his fruitless pow'rs, but from the ocean
zephyr still resumes a constant breath, that all the
fields perfume"). Cp. Ehni, Yama p. 206 sq. — (r)
In popular religion the influence of this eschatological
literature has been very great, so great in fact as to
make the Vimana and Petavatthus & the jatakastories,
exemplifying the theorj- of retribution as
appealing to an ordinary mind by vivid examples of
mythology, greater favourites than any other canonical
book. From this point of view we have to judge Mhvs
14, 58; Petavatthug Vimanan ca sacca-sagyuttai) eva
—• ca desesi thero . . . 2 . The
descriptions of the
Vimanas are in the most exuberant terms. The
palaces (kingdoms in miniature) are of gold, crystal or
exquisite jewels, their pillars arc studded with gems.
their glittering roofs are peaked with 700 pinnacled
turrets (VvA 244. 289 ; also as " innumerable " VvA
188. or 18.000 Ap. 63). Surrounded are these towering
(ucca) mansions by lovely, well-planned gardens, the
paths of which are sprinkled with gold dust ; they are
full of wishing-trees, granting every desire. There is
a variety of stately trees, bearing heavenly flowers &
fruit, swaying gently in delicious breezes. Lotus ponds
with cool waters invite to refreshing baths ; a host of
birds mix their songs with the strains of cymbals and
lutes, played by heavenly musicians. Angelic maidens
perform their dances, filling the atmosphere with a
radiant light which shines from their bodies. Peace and
happiness reign everywhere, the joys of such a vimaBa
cannot be expressed in words. This elysium lasts for
aeons (cira-tthitika Vv 80' r kappa-Uhayin Th i. 1190)
in short it is the most heavenly paradise which can be
imagined. — For a monograph of vimana the Vimana
Vatthu and its Commentary should in the first place
be consulted. — 3. The inhabitants of the Vimanas are
usually happy persons (or yakkhas : see Stede. P. V trsl.
.
39-41), called devata, who have attained to such an
exalted state through their own merit (punha see foil
4). — Departed souls who have gone through the Petastage
are frequently such devas (at \'v 7''
1 called pubbadevata).
That these are liable to semi-punishment and
semi-enjoyment is often emphasized, and is founded
on the character of their respective kamma : J 1.240
(vimana-petiyo sattahar) sukhar) anubhavanti. sattahai)
dukkhai)); J v. 2 (vemanika-peta-bhavena-kammassa
sarikkhako vipako ahosi ; i. e. by night pleasures, by
day tortures); cp. Pv 11. 12 (see Stede, Gespenstergeschichlen
des Peta Vatthu p. 106), m. 7' ; PvA 204, 210,
& Divy p. 9. Expressions for these " mixed " devatas
who are partly blessed, partly cursed are e. g. : vimanapeta
PvA 145. 148, 271. 275 :
f. vimana-peti PvA 152, 160.
186, 190; vimana devata PvA 190; vemanika-peta
J V.2 ; PvA
244; DhA 111.192 (as powerful, by the side
of nagas & supannas). — In their appearance they are
like beautiful human beings, dressed in yellowish
(pita, expl'' as " golden " robes (cp. the angels in
the oldest Christian apocalyptic literature : on their
relation to Hellenic ideas see e. g. A. Dieterich, Nekyia,
Leipzig 1903, pp. 10-18, 29: red & white the colours
of the land of the blessed), with gold and silver as
complementary outfit in person and surroundings.
Thus throughout the Vimana Vatthu. esp. Nos. 36 &
47 (pita-vimana). Their splendour is often likened to
that of the moon or of the morning star. — 4. Origin
of Vimanas. A vimana arises in the " other world "
(paraloka) at the instant of somebody doing good (even
during the lifetime of the doer) and waits for the entry
of the owner ; DhA ill. 291 sq. In the description of the
vimana of the naga-king (J vi.3i5=Vv 84*^) it is said
on this subject : a vimana is obtained neither without
a cause (adhicca), nor has it arisen in the change of the
seasons, nor is it self-made (sayankata), nor given by
the gods, but " sakehi kammehi apapakehi pufliiehi
laddha " (i. e. won by one's own sinless & meritorious
deeds). — Entering the Vimana-paradise is, analogous
to all semi-lethal passing over into enchanted conditions
in fairy tales, compared with the awakening from sleej)
(as in a state of trance) : sutta-ppabuddha DhA in. 7.
Of the Vimana itself it is said that it appears (patur
ahosi). e. g. VvA 188; DhA 1.131 ; or arises (uggarichi)
DhA III. 291 ; VvA
221. — i. -Location of the Vimanas.
The " vimana " is an individual paradisiacal state.
Therefore vimanas are not definitely located " Elysian
Fields." They are anywhere (in this world as well as
in the Beyond), but certain places are more favourable
for their establishment than others. Thus we may
state that tear' iKoxljr they are found in the neighbourhood
of water. Thus either in the Ocean (majjhe sagarasmir)
Th i. 1190; samudda-majjhe PvA 47), where
access is possible only through adventures after ship-
VIII—