Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c7.763

v1.c7.763

Āḷavaka shouted his name before starting from Himavā to vanquish the Buddha. He stood with his left foot on Manosilātala and his right on Kelāsakūṭa. His shout was heard throughout Jambudīpa and was one of the four shouts, mentioned in tradition, as having travelled so far.⁷ Āḷavaka had a special weapon, the Dussāvudha, comparable to Sakka’s Vajirāvudha, Vessavaṇa’s Gadāvudha and Yama’s Nayanāvudha. It had the power, if it were thrown into the sky, of stopping rain for twelve years and if cast on the earth of destroying all trees and crops for a like period. If hurled into the sea it would dry up all the water, and it could shatter Sineru into pieces. It was made of cloth and is described as a vatthāvudha, and it was worn as a part of the Yakkha’s upper garment (uttariya).