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In each heaven there are many goddesses. Each god has many goddesses in his family. None has less than 32 goddesses.
Each god and goddess has a durbar and retinue of numerous minor gods and goddesses. They have also an army of elephants, horses, bullocks, etc., etc., each animal being of course an abhiyogya god transformed on account of his fluid body.
All the Residential, Peripatetic, Stellar and the Heavenly gods in the first two heavens in the first 31 patalas up till the end of 1 rajus from the top of Mount Meru, have bodily sexual union like human beings.
The gods in the 3rd, and 4th. heavens have sexual gratification by touch only.
The gods in the end of the 5th. heaven are called Deva Rishis. They are in their last celestial incarnation. They will be born as human beings in their next incarnation and shall attain Liberation or Moksha. Therefore they are called Laukantikas who have reached the end (anta) of Universe (Loka)..
These Laukantikas are of the following 8 classes:-Sarasvat, Aditya, Vahni, Aruna, Gardtoya, Tushita, Avyabadha, Arishta.
There are 16 more classes, 2 each in the 8 intervals formed by the above 8 classes. In all there are 24 classes. The names of their heavens are after them.
They are all alike and independent and without sexual desire, therefore called Deva Rishi. They descend and attend to the Tirthankaras when the latter make up their minds to renounce the world. The number of Laukantika celestial beings is 407,806.
The gods in the 7th. and 8th, heavens have sexual enjoyment Those in the 9th., by sight only i. e. by seeing the beloved ones. 10th., 11th, and 12th. heavens, by sound only, i. e. by hearing the sound, songs, etc. of the beloved, Those in the 13th, 14th., 15th, and 16th. heavens, by mind only i. e. by contemplating the charms and chaste joys of their spouses.
The heavenly beings beyond the 16th. heaven have no sext:: impulse.
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