feminine
Devatā (feminine) [deva + tā, qualitative-abstract suffix, like Latin juventa, senecta, Gothic hauhipa, Old High German fullida cf. Sanskrit pūrṇatā, bandhutā etc.] "condition or state of a deva," divinity; divine being, deity, fairy. The term comprises all beings which are otherwise styled devas, and a list of them given at Nidd II §308 and based on the principle that any being who is worshipped (or to whom an offering is made or a gift given: de-vatā = yesaṃ deti, as is expressed in the conclusion "ye yesaṃ dakkhiṇeyyā te tesaṃ devatā") is a devatā, comprises 5 groups of 5 kinds each, viz. (1) ascetics; (2) domestic animals (elephants, horses, cows, cocks, crows); (3) physical forces and elements (fire, stone etc.); (4) lower gods (bhumma devā) (nāgā, suvaṇṇā, yakkhā, asurā, gandhabbā); (5) higher gods (inhabitants of the deva-loka proper) Mahārājā, Canda, Suriya, Inda, Brahmā), to which are added the 2 aspects of {299} the sky-god as deva-devatā and disā-devatā). — Another definition at Vv-a 21 simply states: devatā ti devaputto pi Brahmā pi deva-dhītā pi vuccati. — Among the various deities the following are frequently mentioned: rukkha° tree-gods or dryads M I 306; Ja I 221; Pv-a 5; vatthu° earth gods (the four kings) Pv 4 1 ; Pv-a 17; vana° wood-nymphs M I 306; samudda° water-sprites Ja II 112 etc. D I 180 (mahiddhikā, plural), 192; II 8, 87, 139, 158; S I f.; IV 302; M I 245; II 37; A I 64, 210, 211; II 70 (sapubba°); III 77 (bali-paṭiggāhikā), 287 (saddhāya samannāgatā); 309; IV 302 f., 390 (vippaṭisāriniyo); V 331; Snp 45, 316, 458, 995, 1043; Dhp 99; Ja I 59, 72, 223, 256; IV 17, 474; Vv 16 3 ; Pv II 1 10 ; Pj I 113, 117; Pv-a 44. -ānubhāva divine power or majesty Ja I 168; -ānussati "remembrance of the gods," one of the 6 ānussatiṭṭhānāni, or subjects to be kept in mind D III 250, 280, cf. A I 211; Vism 197; -uposatha a day of devotion to the gods A I 211; -paribhoga fit to be enjoyed by gods Ja II 104; -bali an offering to the gods A II 68; -bhāva at Pv-a 110 read as devattabhāva (opposite petatta-bhāva).
a deity; a god (male or female; often identified with the (various groups of) devas, but more often a god or spirit living on earth close to men, in trees, rivers, buildings etc.)
【陰】 神。
(fem, fem, from deva) deity; god deity Construction: √div > dev + *a + tā deva + tā