Āṭānāṭiya Sutta

The Āṭānāṭiya Sutta ("Discourse on the Heavenly Town of Āṭānāṭa")^[1] is the 32nd Sutta in the Dīgha Nikāya ("Long Discourses of Buddha") of the Pāli Canon.^[2]

Āṭānāṭiya Sutta
Type	Canonical Text
Parent Collection	Digha Nikaya
Abbreviation	DN 32
Pāli literature

It is a poem of spiritual protection against evil spirits and was presented to the Buddha by one of the "Four Great Heavenly Kings", King Vessavana (Pali; Sanskrit: Vaiśravana). It also contains a description of the celestial kingdoms of the Four Heavenly Kings. This scripture, there titled The Mahāsūtra, the Sūtra of Āṭānāṭīya, can also be found in the Dīrgha Āgama of Chinese Buddhist canon and Kangyur of Tibetan Buddhist canon; in the latter, it appears both in the standard Sutra section, as well as among the section labeled Dhāraṇīsaṃgraha or Collection of Retention-Spells.^[3][4][5]

Introduction

The Āṭānāṭiya Sutta instructs on how to protect oneself and the monastic community from malevolent spirits, demons, and evil forces that disrupt the practice of the Buddha’s teachings. It describes the circumstances in which such beings may interfere with the holy relics and the followers of the Buddha, and offers protective verses recited for spiritual safeguarding.^[6][7]

During the Buddha’s time, malevolent beings (sometimes called "evil spirits" or malicious devas) who did not respect the Buddha or his disciples would harass and obstruct monks, nuns, and lay devotees. The Āṭānāṭiya Sutta was recited to protect the community, especially through the recitation of dhāraṇīs (protective spells), and included instruction on the powers and duties of the Four Heavenly Kings in maintaining cosmic order.^[8]

Background

According to traditional accounts, the Four Great Heavenly Kings gathered in the celestial city of Āṭānāṭa to compose the sutta. They praised the Buddha and the Seven Buddhas who preceded him, and established the protective verses to counteract evil spirits. After composing the text, celestial armies accompanied the sutta to the earthly realm for the Buddha and his disciples.^[9]

The sutta describes the duties of celestial beings and the protective measures the monastic community can take, emphasizing adherence to moral precepts and avoidance of harmful actions, such as killing, theft, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxicants. It also lists the names of 41 supernatural warriors and describes the powers of malevolent beings that can disrupt spiritual practice.^[10]

See also

• Dīgha Nikāya
• Four Heavenly Kings
• Dhāraṇī