Heaven of the Thirty-Three

Heaven of the Thirty-Three (Skt. Trāyastriṃśa; Tib. Sumchu Tsasum; Wyl. sum cu rtsa gsum) — second heaven of the desire realm, situated on the summit of Mount Meru and presided over by thirty-three gods of whom Indra is the chief.

In the middle of it lies the city Sudarashana (Skt. Sudaraśana; Wyl. grong khyer lta na sdug, Eng. the city of "Lovely-to-See.”) The city has at its center (Wyl. rnam par rgyal ba'i khang bzang) the palace of Indra. The city is surrounded by four parks: 

• 1. Caitraratha vana (Skt.; Wyl. shing rta sna tshogs kyi tshal; Eng. Park of Various Chariots),
• 2. Pārusakā vana (Skt. pārusakā vana or pāruṣyaka vana, Wyl. rtsub 'gyur tshal; Eng. Park of Armory),
• 3. Mishraka vana (Skt. miśrakā vana; Wyl. ’dres pa'i tshal, Eng. Park of Various Activities), and
• 4. Nandana vana (Skt.; Wyl. dga' ba'i tshal; Eng. Park of Delights).

The gods of the Heaven of the Thirty-Three regularly wage war against the asuras.

Further Reading

• Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, Myriad Worlds (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1995), pages 116-118.

Internal Links

• Six heavens of the desire realm