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Tusita

1. Tusita.– One of the palaces occupied by Koṇāgamana Buddha in his last lay life. Bu.xxiv.18.

2. Tusita.– The fourth of the six deva worlds (A.i.210, etc.).

Four hundred years of human life are equal to one day of the Tusita world and four thousand years, so reckoned, is the term of life of a deva born in Tusita (A.i.214; iv.261, etc.)

Sometimes Once-returners (e.g., Purāṇa and Isidatta) are born there (A.iii.348; v.138; also DhA.i.129; UdA.149, 277).

It is the rule for all Bodhisattas to be born in Tusita in their last life but one; then, when the time comes for the appearance of a Buddha in the world, the devas of the ten-thousand world systems assemble and request the Bodhisatta to be born among men. Great rejoicings attend the acceptance of this request (A.ii.130; iv.312; DhA.i.69 f; J.i.47 f).

Gotama’s name, while in Tusita, was Setaketu (Sp.i.161), and the Bodhisatta, the future Metteyya Buddha (q.v.), is now living in Tusita under the name of Nathadeva.

The Tusita world is considered the most beautiful of the celestial worlds, and the pious love to be born there because of the presence of the Bodhisatta (Mhv.xxxii.72 f).

Tusita is also the abode of each Bodhisatta’s parents (DhA.i.110).

The king of the Tusita world is Santusita; he excels his fellows in ten respects — beauty, span of life, etc. (A.iv.243; but see Cv.lii.47, where the Bodhisatta Metteyya is called the chief of Tusita).

Among those reborn in Tusita are also mentioned Dhammika, Anāthapiṇḍika, Mallikā, the thera Tissa (10), Mahādhana and Duṭṭhagāmaṇī.

The Tusita devas are so-called because they are full of joy (tuttha-hatthāti Tusitā) (VibhA.519; NidA.109).

The inhabitants of Tusita are called Tusitā. They were present at the Mahāsamaya (D.ii.161).