This research is of three respects :- 1) to study of the virtue of Deva in Theravada Buddhist perspective, 2) to study of the virtue of Deva in Hindu perspective, and 3) to comparative study of the virtue of Deva in perspective of Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism.
From the research, it is found that the virtue of Deva in Buddhism is divided the virtue of Devahood into two points, namely, 1) the virtue before Devahood, there are three practices virtue to be Deva, e.g. accomplishment, the subject of function, and the bases of meritorious action, 2) the virtue during being Deva, it is the virtue that Deva have to practice always such as Deva’s dhamma and sublime state of mind.
The virtue of Deva in Hindu emphasize three Devas, they are 1) Brahma who is creator, the virtue is the sublime state of mind, 2) Vishnu who is preserver or protector, his virtue is to help suffer person to be happier person. 3) Shiva who is destroyer or judge, his virtue is loving-kindness and not force down to one who is not be, admire one who is to be.
The similarity of Deva’s virtue in two religions is the both Deva in Buddhism and Hinduism have the same principle, which is having loving-kindness, compassion which is the basic of mind. They are always having compassion. Then, the difference of Deva’s virtue is, Buddhism has divided the virtue before to be Deva which causes of Devahood, and the virtue which Deva should always have. The virtue of Deva in Hinduism emphasize to the duty of Deva who are Great Gods as creator, protector, and destroyer.
Human beings are different in another point of Devahood. However, the gods are living beings, it causes gods are also under the law of the world as human beings. That law is called Dhamma, nature, or the law of truth. These laws are named as world law and universal law, because Deva have the higher virtue in the world higher than human beings. It can contact with human beings. So the virtue of Deva can be taken as the criterion that human beings perform for happiness of society. And the virtue of Deva has also developed as the basic of morality and ethics for human beings.
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