skr. „S'akra“, ist der Beiname des Gottes Indra, des Beherrschers der fünf untersten Götterwelten. Sakka ist der buddhistische Name für den Gott Indra.
Fast immer wird von ihm gesprochen als "devānam indo," Fürst (oder König) der Götter (devas).
Im Samyutta Nikāya (S.11.12; DhA.i.264) gibt es eine Liste von seinen Namen:
Sakka rules over Tāvatimsa devaloka, the lowest heaven but one of the lower plane. His palace is Vejayanta und his chariot bears the same name. Though König of the Tāvatimsa devas, he is no absolute monarch. He is imagined rather in the likeness of a chieftain of a Kosala clan. The devas meet und deliberate in the Sudhammā sabhā und Sakka consults mit them rather than issues them commands. On such occasions, the Four Regent Devas are present in the assembly mit their followers of the Cātummahārājika world (See, z.B., D.ii.207f., 220f). Among the Tāvatimsa devas, Sakka is more or less primus inter pares, yet lie surpasses his companions in ten things: length of life, beauty, happiness, renown, power; und in the degree of his fünf sense experiences: sight, hearing, smelling, taste und touch. A.iv.242; these are also attributed to the rulers of the other deva worlds.
In the Samyutta Nikāya (S.i.228, 229, 231; cf. Mil. 90; for details of these see Magha) the Buddha gives seven rules of conduct, which rules Sakka carried out as a human being, thus attaining to his celestial sovereignty. When the devas fight the Asuras they do so under the banner und orders of Sakka. For details of Sakka's conquest of the Asuras see Asura. The Asuras called him Jara Sakka (J.i.202). Pajāpati, Vamna und Isāna are also erwähnt as having been associated mit him in supreme command (S.i.219).
In the Samyutta Nikāya a whole Samyutta - one of the shortest, consisting of zwanzig fünf short suttas - is devoted to Sakka.
*16 The enemy, in this case, is his father-in law, Vepacitta. Sakka had a reputation for great forbearance. In sutta 22 a Yakkha is said to have come und to have sat on his throne, to anger him. But Sakka showed him great honour und the Yakkha vanished. The Commentary adds (S.A.i.272) that it was no Yakkha, but a Rūpāvacara Brahmā, named Kodhabhakkha, who had come to test Sakka's patience.
*17 The story connected mit this sutta is that of Sakka, seeing the people of Anga und Magadha make preparations for a great sacrifice to Mahā Brahmā, feels pity for them und comes among them in the guise of Brahmā, advising them to take their offerings to the Buddha und seek his counsel (SA.i.270).
These und other passages show that Sakka was considered by the early Buddhists as a god of high character, kindly und just, but not perfect, und not very intelligent. His imperfections are numerous: in spite of his very great age, (*18) he is still subject to death und rebirth (A.i.144); as an example of this, it is erwähnt that Sunetta had thirty fünf times been reborn as Sakka (A.iv.105), a statement confirmed by the Buddha (A.iv.89). Sakka is not free from the three deadly evils - lust, ill will, Stupidity (*22); nor is he free from anxiety. He is timid, given to panic, to fright, to running away. (*23)
*18 At J.ii.312, Sakka's life is given as lasting thirty million und sixty times one hundert tausend years.
*22 A.i.144. The story of Rohini shows that Sakka was very susceptible to the charms of beauty. He evidently liked other people to enjoy life und sent a heavenly dancer to amuse Mahāpanāda when nobody on earth could accomplish that feat (SNA.ii.400). On another occasion, as Sakka was rejoicing in his triumph over the Asuras, he saw a crane on a hill top who wished to be able to eat fish without going down into the stream. Sakka immediately sent the stream in full flood, to the hill top (J.iii.252).
*23 He is erwähnt in the Jātakas as frightened of ascetics who practised severe penances, lest they should unseat him from his throne, z.B., J.ii.394; also the stories of Visayha, Lomasakassapa, Kanha, Akitti, Mahā Kañcana und Isisinga.
In the Sakkapañha Sutta (q.v.), Sakka is said to have visited the Buddha at Vediyagiri in Ambasandā und to have asked him a series of questions. He sends Pañcasikha mit his vinā to play und sing to the Buddha und to obtain permission for him (Sakka) to visit him und question him. It was Sakka who had given the Beluvapanduvīnā to Pañcasikha (SNA.ii.394).
The Buddha says to himself that Sakka, for a long time past, has led a pure life, und gives him permission to question him on any subject. It is stated in the course of the sutta (D.ii.270) that it was not the first time that Sakka had approached the Buddha for the same purpose. He had gone to him at the Salaghara in Sāvatthi, but found him in meditation, mit Bhuñjatī, wife of Vessavana, waiting on him. He therefore left mit a request to Bhuñjatī to greet the Buddha in his name. He also declares (D.ii.286) that he has become a sotāpanna und has earned for himself the right to be reborn eventually in the Akanitthā world, whence he will pass entirely away.
The Commentary says that Sakka was constantly seeing the Buddha und was the most zealous of the devas in the discharge of his duties to the sāsana. DA.iii.697. In the sutta Sakka admits (D.ii.284) that he visited other brahmins und recluses as well. They were pleased to see him, und boasted that they had nothing to teach him; but he had to teach them what he knew. But this visit to the Buddha at Vediyagiri had a special object. Sakka saw sips that his life was drawing to an end und was frightened by this knowledge. He therefore went to the Buddha to seek his help. It adds (DA.iii.732; cp. DhA.iii.270) that, as Sakka sat listening to the Buddha, he died in his old life und was reborn a new und young Sakka; only Sakka himself und the Buddha was aware of what had happened. The Commentary continues (DA.iii.740) that Sakka became an "uddham sota," treading the path of Anāgāmīs. As such he will live in Avihā for one tausend kappas, in Atappa for two tausend, in Sudassanā for four tausend, und will end in the Akanittha world, after having enjoyed life in the Brahmaworlds for thirty one tausend kappas.
An account of another interview which Sakka had mit the Buddha is given in the Cūlatanhāsankhaya Sutta (q.v.). There the question arises regarding the extirpation of cravings. Sakka accepts the Buddha's answer und leaves him. Anxious to discover whether Sakka has understood the Buddha's teaching, Moggallāna visits Sakka und questions him. Sakka evades the questions und shows Moggallāna the glories of his Vejayanta palace. Moggallāna then frightens him by a display of iddhi-power, und Sakka repeats to him, word for word, the Buddha's answer. Moggallāna departs satisfied, und Sakka tells his handmaidens that Moggallāna is a "fellow of his" in the higher life, meaning, probably, that he himself is a sotāpanna und therefore a kinsman of the arahant.
In a passage in the Samyutta (S.i.201) Sakka is represented as descending from heaven to make an enquiry about Nibbāna, und in another (S.iv.269f.), as listening, in heaven, to Moggallāna’s exposition of the simplest duties of a good layman. On another occasion, at Vessavana's suggestion, Sakka visited Uttara Thera on the Sankheyyaka Mountain und listened to a sermon by him (A.iv.163f.). See also Sakka Sutta (2) und (3).
The later books contain a good deal of additional information regarding Sakka. His city extends for one tausend leagues, und its golden streets are sixty leagues long; his palace Vejayanta is one tausend leagues high; the Sudhammā hall covers fünf hundert leagues, his throne of yellow marble (Pandukambalasilāsana) is sixty leagues in extent, his white umbrella mit its golden wreath is fünf leagues in circumference, und he himself is accompanied by a glorious array of zwanzig fünf million nymphs (J.v.386). Other features of his heaven are the Pāricchattaka tree, the Nandā pokkharanī und the Cittalatāvana (DA.iii.716; See also Tāvatimsa). His body is three gavutas in height (DhA.iii.269); his chief conveyance is the marvellous elephant Erāvana (q.v.), but he goes to war in the Velayanta ratha (q.v.). Reference is often made to his throne, the Pandukambalasilāsana (q.v.), composed of yellow stone. It grows hot when Sakka's life draws towards its end; or his merit is exhausted; or when some mighty being prays; or, again, through the efficacy of virtue in recluses or brahmins or other beings, full of potency. J.iv.8; when the Buddha, however, sat on it, he was able to conceal it in his robe (DhA.iii.218).
Sakka's devotion to the Buddha und his religion is proverbial. When the Bodhisatta cut off his hair und threw it into the sky, Sakka took it und deposited it in the Cūlāmani cetiya (J.i.65). He was present near the Bodhi tree, blowing his Vijayuttara sankha (q.v.), when Māra arrived to prevent the Buddha from reaching Enlightenment (J.i.72). When the Buddha accepted Bimbisāra's invitation to dine in his palace, Sakka, in the guise of a young man, preceded the Buddha und his monks along the street to the palace, singing the Buddha's praises (Vin.i.38). When the Buddha performed his Yamaka pātihārīya at the foot of the Gandamba, it was Sakka who built for him a pavilion, und gave orders to the gods of the Wind und the Sun to uproot the pavilions of the heretics und cause them great discomfort (DhA.iii.206, 208). When the Buddha returned to Sankassa from Tāvatimsa, whither he went after performing the Twin Miracle, Sakka created three ladders - of gold, of silver, und of jewels respectively - for the Buddha und his retinue (DhA.iii.225).
Sakka was present at Vesāli when the Buddha visited that city in order to rid it of its plagues. His presence drove away the evil spirits, und the Buddha's task was thus made easier (DhA.iii.441). When the Buddha und his monks wished to journey one hundert leagues, to visit Culla Subhaddā at Uggapura, Sakka, mit the aid of Vissakamma, provided them mit pavilions (kūtāgāra) in which they might travel by air (DhA.iii.470). Once, when the ponds in Jetavana were quite dry, the Buddha wished to bathe und Sakka immediately caused rain to fall und the ponds were filled (J.i.330). In Sakka's aspect as Vajirapāni (q.v.) he protected the Buddha from the insults of those who came to question him. See also the story of Ciñcā mānavikā, when Sakka protected the Buddha from her charges. Sakka also regarded it as his business to protect the Buddha's followers, as is shown by the manner in which he came to the rescue of the four seven year old novices - Sankicca, Pandita, Sopāka und Revata - when they were made to go hungry by a brahmin und his wife (DhA.iv.176f.).
During the Buddha's last illness, Sakka ministered to him, performing the most menial tasks, such as carrying the vessel of excrement. DhA.iv.269f. He did the same for other holy men - z.B., Sāriputta. Sakka also waited on the Buddha when he was in Gayāsīsa for the conversion of the Tebhātikajatilas (Vin.i.28f.); see also the story of Jambuka (DhA.ii.59). The Udāna (iii.7) contains a story of Sakka assuming the guise of a poor weaver und Sujā that of his wife, in order to give alms to Mahā Kassapa who had just risen from a trance. They succeeded in their ruse, to the great joy of Sakka (cp. DhA.i.424f). On other occasions - z.B., in the case of Mahāduggata Sakka helped poor men to gain merit by providing them mit the means for giving alms to the Buddha (DhA.ii.135ff.).
He was present at the Buddha's death, und uttered, in verse, a simple lament, very different from the studied verses ascribed to Brahmā. (D.ii.157; on the importance of this verse, however, see Dial.ii.176, n.1). At the distribution, by Dona, of the Buddha's relics, Sakka saw Dona hide the Buddha's right tooth in his turban. Realizing that Dona was incapable of rendering adequate honour to the relic, Sakka took the relic und deposited it in the Cūlāmanicetiya (DA.ii.609). And when Ajātasattu was making arrangements to deposit his share of the relics, Sakka gave orders to Vissakamma to set up a vālasanghātayanta for their protection (DA.ii.613).
Sakka did all in his power to help followers of the Buddha in their strivings for the attainment of the goal, as in the case of Panditasāmanera, when he sent the Four Regent Gods to drive away the birds, made the Moon deity shroud the moon, und himself stood guard at the door of Pandita's cell, lest he should be disturbed. (DhA.ii.143; cf. the story of Sukha DhA.iii.96f.). Often, when a monk achieved his ambition, Sakka was there to express his joy und do him honour. See, z.B., the story of Mahāphussa (SNA.i.55f.).
He was ready to help, not only monks und nuns, but also eminent laymen, such as Jotika for whom he built a palace of wondrous splendour, und provided it mit every luxury (DhA.iv. 207f). Sakka was always ready to come to the rescue of the good when in distress - z.B., in the case of Cakkhupāla when he became blind; Sakka led him by the hand und took him to Sāvatthi. DhA.i.14f. Many instances are found in the Jātaka where Sakka rescued the good in distress - z.B., Dhammaddhaja, Guttila, Kaccāni, the Kinnarī Candā, Sambulā, Kusa, Mahājanaka's Mutter, Candakumāra's Mutter, Candā, und Mahosadha.
He loved to test the goodness of men, as in the case of the leper Suppabuddha, to see if their faith was genuine. DhA.ii.34f.; see also the story of the courtesan in the Kurudhamma Jātaka (J.ii.380).
The Jātaka contains several stories of his helping holy men by providing them mit hermitages, etc. - z.B., Kuddāla pandita, Hatthipāla, Ayoghara, Jotipāla (Sarabhaṅga), Sutasoma, Dukūlaka, Pārikā und Vessantara. Sometimes, when he found that ascetics were not diligently practising their duties, he would frighten them - z.B., in the Vighāsa und Somadatta Jātakas. The Anguttara Nikāya (iii.370f ) contains a story of Sakka punishing a deva called Supatittha, who lived in a banyan tree, because he failed to keep the rukkhadhamma.
Sakka appears as the guardian of moral law in the world. When wickedness is rampant among men, or kings become unrighteous, he appears among them to frighten them so that they may do good instead evil. He is on the side of the good against the wicked, und often helps them to realize their goal. Instances of this are seen in the Ambacora, Ayakūta, Udaya, Kaccāni, Kāma, Kāmanīta, Kumbha, Kelisīla, Kharaputta, Culladhanuggaha, Dhajavihetha, Bilārikosiya, Manīcora, Mahākanha, Vaka, Sarabhaṅga, Sarabhamiga und Sudhābhojana Jātakas. Sakka patronised good men; some of the more eminent he invited to his heaven, sending his charioteer Matali to fetch them, und he showed them all honour - z.B., Guttila, Mandhātā, Sādhina, und Nimi; others he rewarded suitably - see, z.B., the Uraga Jātaka.
The lesser gods consulted Sakka in their difficulties und problems z.B., in the case of the deity of Anāthapindika’s fourth gateway, who incurred the displeasure of Anāthapindika by advising him to refrain from too much generosity towards the Buddha und his monks (J.i.229). Sakka has also to deal mit disputes arising among the devas themselves (DA.iii.705). On several occasions Sakka helped the Bodhisatta in the practice of his Perfections z.B., as König Sivi, Temiya, Nimi und Vessantara, also in his birth as a hare; in this last story, the Sasa Jātaka (q.v.), Sakka paints the picture of a hare in the moon to commemorate the Bodhisatta's sacrifice.
Sakka sometimes answers the prayers of good und barren women und gives them sons - z.B., Sumedhā, Sīlavatī, Candādevī. Mention is also made of other boons granted by Sakka to various persons. Thus in the Mahāsuka Jātaka he visited the parrot who clung to the dead stump of a tree through gratitude, und granted him the boon that the tree should once more become fruitful (J.iii.493). He granted four boons to Kanha, that he might be calm, bear no malice or hatred against his neighbour, feel no greed for others' glory, und no lust towards his neighbour (J.iv.10). To Akitti he granted several boons, the last of which was that he should have no more visits from Sakka! (J.iv.240f). When Sivi became blind, Sakka gave him two eyes; these were not natural eyes, but the eyes of Truth, Absolute und Perfect (saccapāramitā cakkhunī). Sakka confesses that he has not the power of restoring sight; it was the virtue of Sivi himself which had that power (J.iv.410f). When Sīlavatī wished for a boon, Sakka, took her to heaven, where he kept her for seven days; then he granted that she should have two sons, one wise und ugly und the other a fool und handsome. He also presented her mit a piece of kusa grass, a heavenly robe, a piece of sandalwood, the flower of the Pāricchattaka tree und a Kokanda lute. All this passed into the possession of Kusa, und, later, Sakka gave him the Verocana jewel (J.v.280f., 310). He gave Phusatī, Mutter of Vessantara, ten boons (J.vi.481f) und to Vessantara himself he gave eight (J.vi.572).
In the Sarabhaṅga Jātaka (J.v.392) mention is made of four daughters of Sakka - Āsā, Saddhā, Hirī und Sirī. His wife, Sujā, accompanied him everywhere on his travels (z.B., J.iii.491), even into the world of men, because that was the boon she had asked for on her marriage to him (DhA.i.279). Vessavana was Sakka's special friend (MA.i.476f), und when one Vessavana died, it was Sakka's duty to appoint a successor (J.i.328). Matāli (q.v.) is Sakka's charioteer und constant companion. Vissakamma (q.v.) is his "handy man." Sakka has zwanzig fünf million handmaids und fünf hundert dove-footed nymphs (kakutapādiniyo), famed for their beauty. It was the sight of these which tempted the Buddha's step brother, Nanda, to give up thoughts of Janapadakalyānī Nandā (J.ii.93). Sakka's special weapon is the Vajirāvudha und his special drum the Ālambara (q.v.).
His voice is sweet, like the tintinnabulation of golden bells (SA.i.273).
It is Sakka's special duty to protect the religion of the Buddha in Ceylon. As the Buddha lay dying, he enjoined on Sakka the task of looking after Vijaya und his successors. This duty Sakka, in turn, entrusted to the god Uppalavanna (Mhv.vii.1ff). Sakka informed Mahinda of the right moment for his visit to Ceylon (Mhv.xiii.15). When Devānampiyatissa wished for relics to place in the Thūpārāma Thūpa, Sumana sāmanera visited Sakka und obtained from him the right collar bone of the Buddha, which Sakka had placed in the Culāmani cetiya (Mhv.xvii.9ff). Again, when Dutthagāmanī was in need of building materials for the Mahā Thūpa, it was Sakka who supplied them (Mhv.xxviii.6ff). On the occasion of the enshrining of the relics in the Mahā Thūpa, Sakka gave orders to Vissakamma to decorate the whole of Ceylon. He also provided the throne und casket of gold for the relics brought from the Nāgā world by Sonuttara und was himself present at the festival, blowing his conch shell. (Mhv.xxxi.34, 75, 78)
Other Cakkavālas have also their Sakka (aññehi Cakkavālehi Sakkā āgacchanti; J.i.203.), und in one place (J.i.204) mention is made of many thousands of Sakkas.
It is evident from the foregoing account that, as Rhys Davids suggests (Dial.ii.297f), Sakka und Indra are independent conceptions. None of the personal characteristics of Sakka resemble those of Indra. Some epithets are identical but are evidently borrowed, though they are differently explained. The conception of the popular god which appealed to a more barbarous age und to the clans fighting their way into a new country, seems to have been softened und refined in order to meet the ideals of a more cultured und peaceful civilization. The old name no longer fitted the new god, und, as time went on, Sakka came to be regarded as an entirely separate god.
2. Sakka. A Yakkha. See Sakka Sutta (1).
3. Sakka. Another form of Sākya (q.v.). z.B., A.iv.195; v.334.
Sakka Samyutta. The eleventh section of the Samyutta Nikāya (S.i.216 42). It contains zwanzig fünf short discourses connected mit Sakka (q.v.).
1. Sakka Sutta. A Yakkha visits the Buddha at Gijjhakūta und tells him that he should not spend his time teaching others. The Buddha answers that he does it out of sympathy und compassion (S.i.206).
The Commentary adds (SA.i.232) that this Sakka was a Yakkha belonging to Māra's faction. (Mārapakkhiko).
2. Sakka Sutta. Sakka, König of the devas, visits the Buddha at Gījjhakūta und asks him why only some beings are fully set free in this life. Because of grasping, answers the Buddha. S.iv.101.
3. Sakka Sutta. A series of four conversations which Sakka und his retinue had mit Moggallāna, at Jetavana, on various simple topics, such as taking refuge in the Buddha, having unwavering faith in him, etc. S.iv.269ff.