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Suddhāvāsā

1. Avihā — “Durable gods,”
2. Atappā — “Untroubled gods,”
3. Sudassā — “Beautiful gods,”
4. Sudassī — “Clear-sighted gods,” and
5. Akaniṭṭhā — “Perrless gods.” (e.g., D.iii.237).

Non-returners (anāgāmī) are born there, and there they attain Arahantship. They are divided into twenty-four classes (See, e.g., KhA.182f.; of. PSA. 319; Vsm.710).

Bodhisattas are never born there (SNA.i.50; BuA.224).

The Suddhāvāsā are described as “Buddhānaṃ khandhāvāratthānasadisā.” These realms remain empty for incalculable world-cycles when no Buddhas are born,  (AA.ii.808; cf. MA.i.30).

The Buddha is mentioned as having visited the Suddhāvāsā (e.g., D.ii.50). When a Buddha is about to be born, the inhabitants of the Suddhāvāsā insert a knowledge of the signs of a Great Being in the Vedas and teach this among men in the guise of brahmins, calling such knowledge “buddhamanta.” Men learn it and are thus able to recognize a Great Being (MA.ii.761; SNA.ii.448). The inhabitants of the Suddhāvāsā know how many Buddhas will be born in any particular world-cycle by observing the number of lotuses that spring up on the site of the Seat of Enlightenment (Bodhi-pallaṅka) when the earth gradually emerges after the destruction of the world (DA.ii.411). It is the Suddhāvāsā Brahmās who provide the four omens that lead to a Bodhisatta’s renunciation in his last lay life. See, e.g., DA.ii.455f.

Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names • G.P. Malalasekera