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LAUKANTIKA DEVAS
borders of Brahmaloka. Otherwise, that which is diffused with birth, old age and death is loka, that is samsara. Lokanta means at the end of it. Those who are at the end of samsara (transmigration) are called Laukantikas. All of them have come to the end of transmigration1. Coming down from there, they take one birth and attain beatitude.
They have been mentioned in general. Their divisions are mentioned next.
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सारस्वतादित्यवहृयरुणगर्दतोयतुषिताव्याबाधारिष्टाश्च ॥ २५ ॥
Sarasvatadityavahnyarunagardatoyatuṣitāvyā
bādhāriṣṭāśca
(25)
25. They are Sarasvata, Aditya, Vahni, Aruna, Gardatoya, Tusita, Avyabadha and Arista (groups).
Where do these dwell? These eight classes of devas reside respectively in the eight directions of the east, the north, etc. The abode of Sarasvata group is in the north-eastern direction, that of Adityas in the east, that of Vahni in the south-east, that of Aruna in the south, that of Gardatoya in the southwest, that of Tusita in the west, that of Avyabadha in the north-west and that of Arista in the north. The particle 'ca' is intended to include two groups of devas between each pair of those enumerated. It is as follows. Between Sarasvatas and Adityas are Agnyabhas and Suryabhas. Between Adityas and Vahnis are Chandrabhas and Satyabhas. Between Vahnis and Arunas are Sreyaskaras and Kṣemankaras. Between Arunas and Gardatoyas are Vrṣabheṣṭas and Kamacaras. Between Gardatoyas and Tuṣitas are Nirmāṇarajas and Digantarakṣitas. Between Tusitas and Avyābādhas are Atmarakṣitas and Sarvarakṣitas. Between Avyābādhas and Ariṣṭas are Maruts and Vasus. Between Aristas and Sarasvatas are Asvas and Viśvas. All these are independent, as there is no inequality among them. They are celestial sages, as they are devoid of longing
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1 They are born in the middle world in the regions of labour and they attain liberation, as liberation is possible only in this terrestrial world of human effort. In the lands of paradise and in celestial regions, the desires are fulfilled instantaneously without any effort. Hence there is no room for labour and endeavour.
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