<p>The earliest source seems to be Paṭisambhidāmagga. See here
<a href="https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/sutta-searching-water-fire-miracle-in-pali-canon/5088/2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/sutta-searching-water-fire-miracle-in-pali-canon/5088/2</a></p>

<p>It appears to be elaborating a mere reference to something called “Twin Miracle” in Cūḷaniddesa, which in itself is a commentary on parts of the Suttanipata.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-28T11:25:22.357Z
2019-02-28T11:25:22.357Z
Kumāra Bhikkhu
<p>The fact that the Buddha could perform these miracles should be taken in the light to strengthen your devotion to the Buddha. If this is for pure delight or intellectual stimulations in miracles like watching or reading about magic or watching a magic show, this is the wrong motivation to investigate about it.</p>

<p>Having said the there is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Gautama_Buddha" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> page on miracles the Buddha performed including the twin miracle.</p>

<p><em>I am not exactly answering your question here but I hope this adds value.</em></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-16T06:56:36.700Z
2014-09-16T06:56:36.700Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>It's called the "twin miracle": The DPPN entry under <a href="http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/y/yamaka_paatihaariya.htm" rel="nofollow">Yamaka pātihāriya</a> says,</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The Twin Miracle is described at DA.i.57, and in very great detail at DhA.iii.204; see also J.iv.263ff. etc.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-15T17:46:16.190Z
DA is the traditional Pali Commentary on the Dīgha Nikāya which has not be translated except in small bits. The DhA is the traditional Pāḷi commentary on the Dhammapada (I think) which has been translated into English by Eugene Burlingham as "Buddhist Legends".  J is the Jātakas which are also available in English translation.
Jayarava
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-09T06:54:41.673Z
DA is not sutra/sutta.
Kumāra Bhikkhu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-15T19:04:08.013Z
2015-04-08T14:10:14.500Z
2015-04-08T14:10:14.500Z
ChrisW
<p>After the Buddha returned to his father's kingdom, uncertainty still existed about whether Gautama Buddha was really enlightened or not. In response, the Buddha allegedly displayed the Yamaka-pātihāriya or the "Twin Miracle", called so because of its simultaneous production of apparently contradictory phenomena; in this case, fire and water.</p>

<p>The twin miracle entailed Gautama Buddha producing flames from the upper part of his body and streams of water from the lower part of his body, alternating this, and doing similarly between the left and right sides of his body.</p>

<p>Afterwards, the Buddha took three giant steps, arriving in Tavatimsa. There, he preached the Abhidharma to his mother who had been reborn there as a Deva named Santussita.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-09T06:55:26.140Z
You didn't answer the question.
Kumāra Bhikkhu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-15T19:18:42.893Z
2014-09-15T19:18:42.893Z
konrad01
<p>I've seen pictures that depict the Buddha floating in the air and emitting fire from this torso and water from his legs. The fire and the water might be the other way around. I think the picture illustrates a sutra or other text. Does anyone know what the original text might be? </p>

<reference-request><sutras>
What is the sutra where the Buddha emits fire and water from his body?
# What is the sutra where the Buddha emits fire and water from his body?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-15)

I've seen pictures that depict the Buddha floating in the air and emitting fire from this torso and water from his legs. The fire and the water might be the other way around. I think the picture illustrates a sutra or other text. Does anyone know what the original text might be?

**Tags:** reference-request, sutras


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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-09-15. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

It's called the "twin miracle": The DPPN entry under [Yamaka pātihāriya](http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/y/yamaka_paatihaariya.htm) says,

> The Twin Miracle is described at DA.i.57, and in very great detail at DhA.iii.204; see also J.iv.263ff. etc.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: DA is the traditional Pali Commentary on the Dīgha Nikāya which has not be translated except in small bits. The DhA is the traditional Pāḷi commentary on the Dhammapada (I think) which has been translated into English by Eugene Burlingham as "Buddhist Legends".  J is the Jātakas which are also available in English translation.  
> **username_1**: DA is not sutra/sutta.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-09-15. Score: 5

After the Buddha returned to his father's kingdom, uncertainty still existed about whether Gautama Buddha was really enlightened or not. In response, the Buddha allegedly displayed the Yamaka-pātihāriya or the "Twin Miracle", called so because of its simultaneous production of apparently contradictory phenomena; in this case, fire and water.

The twin miracle entailed Gautama Buddha producing flames from the upper part of his body and streams of water from the lower part of his body, alternating this, and doing similarly between the left and right sides of his body.

Afterwards, the Buddha took three giant steps, arriving in Tavatimsa. There, he preached the Abhidharma to his mother who had been reborn there as a Deva named Santussita.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You didn't answer the question.  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2019-02-28. Score: 2

The earliest source seems to be Paṭisambhidāmagga. See here
<https://discourse.suttacentral.net/t/sutta-searching-water-fire-miracle-in-pali-canon/5088/2>

It appears to be elaborating a mere reference to something called “Twin Miracle” in Cūḷaniddesa, which in itself is a commentary on parts of the Suttanipata.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2014-09-16. Score: 1

The fact that the Buddha could perform these miracles should be taken in the light to strengthen your devotion to the Buddha. If this is for pure delight or intellectual stimulations in miracles like watching or reading about magic or watching a magic show, this is the wrong motivation to investigate about it.

Having said the there is a [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracles_of_Gautama_Buddha) page on miracles the Buddha performed including the twin miracle.

*I am not exactly answering your question here but I hope this adds value.*


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