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## Chapter Four
**8442.** The word "deva" (god) has been used many times in the sutras, such as "भवप्रत्ययो ऽवधिर्देवनारकाणाम्" (gods and hell-beings have knowledge of the limit of their bhavas). However, it is not clear who these devas are and how many types of devas there are. To clarify this, the next sutra states:
**Devas are of four nikayas (groups).** ||1||
**8443.** Devas are those who, due to the rise of the karma called "devagati" (god-hood) as an inner cause, enjoy various external glories and play freely in places like islands, oceans, etc. The use of the singular "deva" in the sutra is appropriate because the mention of the genus (jati) implies the mention of the species (bhuta). The use of the plural is to indicate the various types of devas. The implication is that there are many types of devas, even more than Indra and Samanika, and there are also many types in terms of their state, etc. Therefore, the plural is used to indicate them. Those who are gathered together by the power of the devagati karma, which is obtained through their own specific karmas, are called nikayas. The word "nikaya" means "group." The compound "caturnikaya" indicates that there are four main groups of devas. The question arises: what are the names of these four nikayas? The answer is: Bhavanavasi, Vyantar, Jyotishka, and Vaimanika.
**8444.** To determine the leshyas (degrees of purity) of these nikayas, the next sutra states:
**In the first three nikayas, there are four leshyas, up to the Pita leshya.** ||2||
1. iti va tanni- mu. 5. iti. Jaty- mu. Vishe- mu. Ta., na.
2. Vishesad dvipa- mu. 3. mudradisu prade- mu, 4. danti te deva: mu. 6. 'Jatyasyayamekasminbahuvacanananyatarasyam' Pa. 1, 3, 2, 58
7. Svadharma