Deva

The sanskrit word Deva has multiple meanings in Jainism. In many places the word has been used to refer to the Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers of Dharma). But in common usage it is used to refer to the heavenly beings. These beings are born instantaneously in special beds without any parents just like hell beings (naraki). According to Jain texts, clairvoyance (avadhi jnana) based on birth is possessed by the celestial beings. Classes of heavenly beings According to Jain texts, the celestial beings are of four orders (classes):- Bhavanavāsī (residential) Vyantara (intermediaries or peripatetic) Jyotiṣka (luminaries or stellar) Vaimānika (Astral or heavenly beings) There are of ten, eight, five and twelve classes up to the Heavenly beings (kalpavasis). There are ten grades in each of these classes of celestial beings, the Lord (Indra), his Equal, the Minister, the courtiers, the bodyguards, the police, the army, the citizens, the servants, and the menials.