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natural to it, so that there are three kinds of gods corresponding to the nature of dhyāna viz. To the first Rūpadhyāna, the following gods are attached -
1. Brahmaparişat (Brahmakāyika ), 2. Brahmapurohita ( Brahmapurohita ). 3. Mahābrahma ( Mahābrahma ). To the second dhyānabhūmi are attached the gods called parittābha, Apramāņābha and Āvāsura.
With the third dhyānabhîmi are associated the gods called parittaśubha, apramāpaśubha and śubhākírna or śubhakştsna. To the fourth dhyāna are attached BỊhatphala, asamgasattva, aběhā or anāvịta, Punyāsava and Brhatphala.
Beyond the fourth dhyāna, we have the following devas of the Suddhābhāsa class namely Atapta, Sudarśana, Sudarśí and Āpanişthā.1 Thus there are sixteen kinds of devas in the Rūpadhātu.2
IV. ĀRUPYA ( PLACE OF THE FORMLESS) Beyond the highest heaven of form, we have four formless regions viz. Ākāšanantāyatana, Vijñānāntāyatana and Naivasanga or nasamgāyatana meaning infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness and subtlest consciousness..
The entire Kámadhatu reaches up to vāyumandala.3 In Ārupya or the formless vision the upapatti or birth of beings is of four kinds--the skandha pravịtti of karma upapatti or nivsttajanmāntara. This represents the re-emergence of skandhas or bodily elements of persons who have been free from karma in an earlier life. This appearance of the elements is regarded virtually as identical with the birth of the consciousness. This is in upapatti ( 3441€ ). The consciousness is born in the different planes according to the state at the time of death.
. 1. In some places it is said that in the Udimitra (SIFE) or supremely
defined state of the 4!h dhyāna, the anūsavadhyāna is mixed with it. There are five devas corresponding to the degree of intensity attained in the
Ldimātra meditation namely avrhā apāpa, sudrsa, sudarśanā and Apanişıhā. 2. Vide Sphuţārthābhidharma kośa Vyākhyā Ill-2 3. Vide Abhidharmı kośa Sphutártha III-3.
