 |
| Devas play among blades of grass and woodland groves (myheartsisters.org) |
The Fairy Faith (In Search of Fairies - documentary)
A deva (Sanskrit देव) in Buddhism is one of many different types of non-human light beings who share the characteristics of in general being more powerful, longer-lived, and more contented than human beings.
 |
| Burmese space-nats (article.wn.com) |
Synonyms in other languages include English fairy or sprite or angel, Tibetan lha, Japanese ten, Thai Thevada (from the Pali devata), Mongolian tenger (тэнгэр), Chinese tiān (天), Khmer tep (ទេព) or preah (ព្រះ), Burmese nat, Korean cheon, Vietnamese thiên.
 |
| The kami in Shinto and Buddhism (OMP) |
The concept of
devas was adopted in Japan partly because of the similarity to the
Shinto religion's concept of
kami.
Other words used in Buddhist texts to refer to similar supernatural beings are devatā "deity" and devaputra (Pāli devaputta) "son or offspring of the devas." which refer to devas born in space, leading to the loose English translation "angel" or "being of light." Bhumi-devas live on Earth, particularly in quiet woodlands.
Powers
 |
| Burmese deva or nat (WQ) |
From a human perspective, devas share the characteristic of generally remaining invisible to the physical human eye, having its luminosity extend beyond the range of ordinary human sight on the light spectrum. Shamans and children can often see them due to their greater innocence and sensitivity, something that is lost if and when they become enmeshed in the world.
 |
| "Wings" (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty/TA) |
The presence of a
deva can, however, be detected by humans who have opened the "divine eye" (
divyacakṣus,
dibbacakkhu), an
extrasensory power by which one can see beings existing on other planes.
Their voices can also be heard by those who have cultivated divyaśrotra (Pali dibbasota), a similar power of the ear. (The external ear does not become more sensitive so much as the internal portion of the brain, mind, or ear-sensitivity does).
Transformation (shape shifting)
 |
| Luminous avian-deva (garuda, suparna), Thailand (00_prototype/flickr.com) |
 |
| Lakshmi, India's greatest goddess or devi (NB) |
Most devas are capable of constructing illusory forms by which they can manifest themselves to beings existing on lower planes, such as Earth. Higher and lower devas even have to do this between one anothers' planes.
Devas do not require the same kind of sustenance as do humans, although the lower kinds do eat and drink. Higher devas shine with their own intrinsic luminosity. Humans also give off light, scientists have confirmed, but it is usually very weak.
Devas are also capable of moving great distances quickly and of flying through the air, although lower
devas sometimes accomplish this through magical aids such as a flying "chariot," "mansion," or extraterrestrial craft (
vimana).
More  |
| (onmarkproductions.com) |
(Japanese devas) BENZAITEN, BENTEN: River Goddess, Water Goddess, Bestower of Language and Letters, Goddess of Wealth and Good Fortune, Patroness of Music, Poetry, Learning, and Art, Defender of Nation, Protector of Buddhist Dharma. Origin = Hindu River Goddess Sarasvatī (サラスヴァティー). Every major city in Japan has a shrine or temple dedicated to Benzaiten. Her places of worship number in the thousands and are often located near water, the sea, a lake, a pond, or a river. She is one of the nation's most widely venerated deities. More
