Hindu cosmology talks about many planes (multiple
worlds) of existence called lokas.
They are classified into higher and lower
realms of existence.
When one thinks of the lower planes of existence
one thinks about hellish landscape where the
residents are subjected to eternal torment.
But is that an accurate portrayal?
What really happens in the lower realms of
existence in the hindu cosmology.
Are they allegories from which we can learn
something?
Before we jump in, i’d like to clarify two
important points.
Vedanta much like the tenets of the ancient wisdom
we discuss here considers most of these spheres
of existence to be temporary.
Only reality is the supreme absolute or what we call  the
god energy (the brahman, oversoul).
Remember also, that the Puranas are bhakti
oriented texts (they do talk about the vedantic
concepts) but there is a heavy devotional
component to it.
When people talk about Hindu cosmology people
usually talk about 14 worlds (lokas) divided
into seven higher realms and seven lower subterreanean
realms of existence.
Before we look at these, an interesting fact
is that the Puranic texts actually talk about
a host of other worlds (not just 14) .
For example, the Sivapurana talks about the
14 worlds comprising our universe as being
brahmas worlds - manifested by the creative
power.
The sivapurana then goes on to talk about
14 vishnu worlds and another 28 worlds beyond
those 14.
It talks about the pure world of Shiva that
exists beyond these 56 worlds.
As fascinating as that is, we will discuss
that for another day.
Coming back to the 14 worlds that comprise
our universe (the creative worlds): According
to the Siva purana the 14 worlds comprising
our universe are created by Brahma - the creative
power.
The lower worlds are seven and the upper worlds
are also seven in number.
The seven higher realms start from bhuhloka
the earth and move up to satyaloka (the abode
of the creator god brahma).
They are inhabited by saints and other realized
beings.
What is really interesting is what happens
in these lower realms of existence according
to some of these texts..
Let us take a look at two puranic texts (the
shiva purana and the bhagavatha purana) to
see the description of these lower worlds of existence (lokas).
According to the sivapurana, the seven nether
worlds are Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Rasatala,
Tala, Talatala and the Patala.
The sivapurana describes the nether worlds
in this way.
... The surfaces of all are grounds of gems.
The palaces are full of gems and their terraces
are made of gold.
Narada, a saint, who came to heaven from the
nether region announced in the middle of the
celestial assembly that the nether worlds
(patala) are more beautiful than heaven.
He says -
There, in all sorts of ornaments, lustrous
jewels are present.
They are delightful.
What is there equal to it?
The nether region is here and there brightened
up by the daughters of Daityas and Danavas.
Even to the liberated soul, the nether region
is pleasing.
Which liberated soul does not like it?
There during (he daytime there are no sun’s
rays, nor the moon’s rays during the night.
There is neither chillness nor bright sunlight.
There is only the lustre of the jewels.
All sorts of foodstuffs and drinks are consumed
there by extremely joyous persons.
The time that passes by is not known there
at all.
It then talks about beautiful rivers and lakes...sounds
of musical instruments everywhere.
Contrary to endless pain and suffering, these
worlds seem to be heaven for those concerned
with the material.
The Bhagavatha purana, another ancient text,
in fact calls the lower seven lokas Bila Svargas
or subterranean heavens.
A quick detour - A few verses did touch upon
the beings that are described in these regions
- daityas danavas and so on.
We will later look at what these symbolize
in a later video but for now it is essential
to understand that all these beings - devas, danavas, daityas, asuras etc that we encountered in all these books
are sibling races - descendants of daughters
of daksa - who was the created son of brahma
- the creative energy.
Sivapurana has this to say
Devas, sages, demons, trees, birds and
mountain-creepers born of the daughters of
Dak?a filled the entire space between Patala
and Satyaloka
Everyone sentient being has a potential for
good and evil (dharma and adharma) - we will
discuss that later.
Coming back to the Bhagavatha purana - The Bhagavatha Purana calls out the
seven subterranean regions as Atala, Vitala,
Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala.
The ordering is slightly changed from that
of the sivapurana.
The regions are described as veritable heavens.
“Therein reside Daityas, Danavas and Serpents in extremely rich mansions,
gardens, parks and play-grounds which surpass
the heavenly world in their exuberance of
sensuous enjoyments, affluence, joy and richness.
They are householders whose affectionate wives,
children, relatives always enjoy a highly
delightful life.
Their desires are never thwarted even by the
lord of the gods.
They divert themselves with their skills in
Maya which is the art again of creating illusions.”
It goes to say that - Maya, ( the architect)
of miraculous powers has built cities in these
regions.
They shine resplendent with wonderful mansions,
defence-walls, gates, town-halls, temples,
big quadrangles and houses construct- ed with
excellent precious-stones of various types
It talks about the the gardens that exceed
the splendour of those in the land of gods
with their glorious beauty, giving delight
to minds and senses
The Bhagavatha Purana says - It is said that here (in this netherworld)
no fear is noticed (to have been caused) due
to the divisions of time such as day and night.
The crest jewels on the hoods of great serpents
dispel all the darkness there.
In terms of the condition of the inhabitants
of this world.
Due to the intake of herbs,  elixirs,
food, drinks and bath of miraculous efficacy,
the inhabitants of these regions do not suffer
from mental worries and physical ailments.
They are immune from wrinkles, grey hair and
old age.
Nor are they affected by bodily changes due
to age (from childhood to old age) .
So, these are the descriptions of the seven
lower realms of existence in Hindu cosmology.
They seem pretty heavenly according to our
current conditioning.
Now, what do we make out of this?
What are they allegories for?
Why are the lower realms of existence so much
spectacular than the higher realms of existence
 
If we look at the lokas from the perspective
of collective consciousness we arrive at a
fascinating conclusion.
The ancient wisdom states that we are all
deluded by the illusion.
There is an internal conflict between the
part of us that is attracted to material world
and the part of us that yearns for liberation.
If you look at the conflict, we arrive at
a conclusion.
These lower worlds depict a shift towards
more materialism.
As you move to the lower planes of existence
you shift more towards materialism and get
trapped by it.
They truly are subterranean heavens for the
materially inclined.
However, the more one gets ensnared in material
world the more one gets deluded by maya and
the more difficult it is to break out and
attain salvation.
Who is not tempted at the prospect of a relatively
eternal life that you can spend with your
loved ones without fear of death or disease....
Who can cast that off for the search of the
ultimate truth?
A gurantee of spending relative eternity with
loved ones, in paradise free of any concerns
is the concept of heaven as we know it.
A seeker would question that too.
That is not the ultimate answer.
Questions would arise - Why is this happening?
What is the creative force behind this?
Above all, for a true seeker this also gets
boring real quick.
The conversation in kathopanishad comes to
mind.
The exchange is between nachiketa, a young
boy and yama the god of death.
Nachiketa asks Yama as one of the boons to
explain what happens to the soul on its finally
leaves the physical world.
He is not talking about the intermediate death
in the cycle of birth and death.
He knows that because he is dead and talking
to Yama.
He asks about liberation.
Yama implores nachiketa not to ask this question.
He promises him great wealth, vast kingdoms,
immortal progenies and many other material
pleasures.
. Nachiketa responds by saying that the joys
felt in the material world is an imagined
joy appearing to arise from objects which
are falsely considered as the source of joy
.Nachiketa refuses all the wealth declring
that the ultimate truth is what he seeks
Then Yama accedes that Nachiketa is a true seeker and 
talks about the ultimate reality
and the realization
of the oneness of the Atman with the Brahman (the oversoul, the supreme absolute, the god energy) .He
concludes that in finality on realizing the
essential unity of being, having known the
Supreme absolute (the Brahman), one becomes
the Self of all beings.
With this I end my thoughts on the description
of the netherworlds in Hindu cosmology.
As always known is a drop and the unknown
an ocean.
Peace
