ābhassarā

adjective noun shining, brilliant, radiant, Name of a class of gods in the Brahma heavens “the radiant gods”, usually referred to as the representatives of supreme love (pīti & mettā) thus at DN.i.17; Dhp.200; Iti.15; Dhp-a.iii.258 (˚loka). In another context at Vism.414 sq.

etym. uncertain; one suggested in Cpd. 138 n. 4 is ā + *bha + *sar, i.e. from whose bodies are emitted rays like lightning, more probably a comb^n. of ābhā + svar (to shine, be bright), i.e. shining in splendour