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Devala

1. Devala.– An ascetic who once came from the Himavā region in search of vinegar and honey and took refuge for the night in a potter’s house. Another ascetic, Nārada (the Bodhisatta), arrived later at the hut and, with the permission of Devala, stayed there. During the night, Nārada, going out of the hut, trod on the locks of Devala who lay right across the doorway. He asked for pardon, and returning, passed by what he took to be Devala’s feet, but Devala had turned round and Nārada again trod on his hair. Devala thereupon cursed him, saying that, at sunrise, his head would split in seven pieces; but Nārada stopped the sun from rising. The king enquired as to what had happened, and, on learning the story, forced Devala to ask Nārada’s pardon. As he did not do this of his own free will, he was taken, at Nārada’s suggestion, to a pond and made to stand up to his neck in water with a lump of clay on his head. As soon as the sun rose the lump of clay split in seven pieces and Devala swam away. Devala is identified with Thulla-Tissa. DhA.i.32 ff.

2. Devala.– See Kāḷadevala.

3. Devala.– Cousin of Padumuttara Buddha and later his leading disciple (aggasāvaka). Padumuttara’s first discourse was addressed to him and his brother Sujāta. Bu.xi.24; BuA.159; Ap.i.106.

4. Devala.– An ascetic in Himavā. He lived before the time of Padumuttara Buddha, who was yet in Tusita, but realising in his mind the qualities of previous Buddhas, Devala built a cetiya on the bank of a river and made offerings to it in the name of the Buddha. Later, he was born in the Brahma-world. He was a previous birth of Sirimatthera (Pulinuppādaka).

ThagA.i.280; Ap.ii.426.

5. Devala.– A Pacceka Buddha. When Upāli was once born as Sunanda, the king’s son, one day, when riding on an elephant, he saw Devala and insulted him. It was for this reason that he was born in a low caste in his last life. ThagA.i.368.