Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c36.s1.7

v2.c36.s1.7

(iv) There is *antarābhava*.³ The Sammitīyas like the Sarvāstivādins hold that every being be he destined for Kāmaloka or Rūpaloka by his *karma*, remains for some time in an intermediate state of existence. At that time the body takes no material form not even the *skandhas*. It is not an independent state of existence but just a waiting stage preliminary to his existence in one of the two lokas. The Sammitīyas add that those beings who are destined for hells, or Asaññī sphere or Arūpaloka have no antarābhava.