Anavatapta
Anavatapta
[阿耨達竜王] (Skt; Jpn Anokudatsu-ryuo)
A dragon said to live in Anavatapta Lake, or Heat-Free Lake, north of the Snow Mountains. Anavatapta is one of the eight great dragon kings who joined those assembled to hear the Lotus Sutra, as described in the "Introduction" (first) chapter of the sutra. According to the Long Agama Sutra, although dragons are tormented by fiery heat, stripped of their jeweled clothing by fierce winds, and afraid of garuda birds that prey on them, the dragon king Anavatapta is free from all these distresses. For this reason this dragon is called Anavatapta, which means free from or not afflicted by heat. Anavatapta is also the name of the lake where the dragon king Anavatapta is said to dwell. See also dragon deity; eight great dragon kings.
