Akaniṭṭhā Devā untranslated

Akaniṭṭhā Devā. A class of Devas, living in the highest of the five Suddhāvāsā (Pure Mansions) (DN.iii.237). In the Mahāpadānasutta (DN.ii.52f) the Buddha mentions that he visited their abode and conversed with beings who were born there as a result of the holy lives they had lived under various Buddhas.

In the Sakkapañhasutta (DN.ii.286) Sakka speaks of them as the highest Devas, and expresses his satisfaction that he, too, will be born among them in his last life.

Buddhaghosa says they are so-called because of their supremacy in virtue and in happiness, and because there are no juniors among them (sabbeh’eva saguṇehi ca bhavasampattiyā ca jeṭṭhā n’atth’ettha kaniṭṭhāti akaniṭṭhā). DN­a.ii.480. VbhA.521 (āyunā ca paññāya ca Akaniṭṭhā jeṭṭhakā sabba-devehi paṇītatarā devā, the Akaniṭṭha gods are the eldest in lifespan and wisdom, and are the most exalted among all the Devas). (=DN­a.iii.739).

In the Visuddhimagga (p. 634) their world is spoken of as a Brahma loka where Anāgāmīs are born and enter complete Nibbāna (p. 710) (also Iti-a.40; DN­a.iii.740). The duration of life among these Devas is 16,000 Kalpas (Kv.207). Sometimes Anāgāmī are born among the Avihā Devas and finish their existence, in a subsequent birth, among the Akaniṭṭhās. These are called “Uddhaṁsotā” (Dhp­a.iii.289f.; see also SN.v.201).

The Akaniṭṭhabhavana is the upper limit of the rūpāvacārabhūmi (Paṭis.i.84); it is also spoken of as the highest point of the universe, Avīci being the lowest. Thus the quarrel among the Kosambī monks spread even up to the Akaniṭṭhā devā (Ja.iii.487), as did the shouts of the assembly at the severing of the branch of the Bodhi-tree (Mbv. 150-1; see also Mil. 284).