• Manāpakāyikā

A class of devas possessing lovely forms. Once a large number of them visited Anuruddha at the Ghositirāma and announced to him that in a trice they could assume any colour they desired, produce any sound, and obtain any happiness. Anuruddha tested their claims and found them to be true.

Some of them sang, some danced, some clapped, some played on various musical instruments, but finding that their entertainment was lost on Anuruddha, they left him. Anuruddha told the Buddha of their visit, and the Buddha explained to him the eight qualities, the possession of which enabled women to be born among the Manāpakāyikā. A.iv.265ff., also ibid., 268, where the Buddha speaks of them to Visākhā; cf. AA.ii.773.