A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 29

THE PaTaLAS

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 24.*

Ten thousand Yojanas below the Sun is Rahu, son of Sinhika. Though an Asura, by favour of Bhagavan he became a planet and immortal too like the Devas.

Ten thousand Yojanas below Rahu is the abode of the Siddhas, Charanas and Vaidyadharas.

Below that is the abode of the Yakshas, Rakshasas, Pisachas, Pretas, and Bhutas. This abode extends down to the regions of air and clouds.

One hundred Yojanas below that is the Earth. The details of the Earth's surface have been given above.

Underneath the Earth are the seven Patalas: - Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. They are ten thousand Yojanas apart from each other.

In these nether Svargas, Daityas, Danavas and Nagas dwell. Their enjoyments, power, joys and luxuries are even greater than those of the Devas of Svarga. Their houses, gardens and playgrounds are very rich.

They are always joyous. They are attached to their wives, sons, friends and attendants. By the grace of isvara, their desires are always gratified.

Maya, the Danava Magician, has built wonderful houses, gardens &c. in these regions with precious stones.

There are no divisions of time, as the Sun's rays do not enter those regions and no disturbances from such divisions. All darkness is removed by the light of the precious stones on the head of the serpent king.

The people of Patala use divine herbs and medicines, and consequently they have no infirmities, diseases, old age, languor and offensive secretions.

They have no death except by the Chakra of Bhagavan (_i.e._ final extinction).

_Atala:_ - Bala, the son of Maya resides in Atala (Maya is a masculine form of Maya the root Prakriti). He created here 96 forms of Maya. The Mayavins (those who practice Magic) still have recourse to those forms.

When he yawns, three cla.s.ses of women spring into existence viz:

1. Svairini (self willed loose women), 2. Kamini (pa.s.sionate women) and 3. Punschali (unchaste women).

If any one enters Atala these women completely allure him by their Hataka (golden) charm, and when the man is completely overcome by their allurements, he says "I am isvara", "I am Siddha."

[The women are only forms of Maya because Maya is personified as an alluring woman. A man in Atala is completely under the domination of Maya and becomes estranged from spirit. So Maya is all in all to him and he knows no other.]

_Vitala_: - Below Atala is Vitala. There Bhava (Siva) the king of Gold reigns in company with his consort Bhavani, attended by Bhutas. He remains there for the benefit of the Praj.a.pati creation. The fluid of intercourse with Bhavani gives rise to a river called Hataki (Golden).

Agni kindled by Vayu drinks up that river and gives out the gold called Hataka which is used in ornaments by the Asuras who dwell there.

(We have known Siva as the Astral Lord. We find him here engaged in the work of creation. The text speaks of a mysterious connection between him and the gold called Hataka. The occult varieties of gold such as Jamvanada and Hataka form a fit subject of study. Hataka refers to the Praj.a.pati creation. There is duality in Vitala, as distinguished from the singleness of Maya in Atala).

_Sutala_: - Below Vitala is Sutala. There the renowned Bali son of Virochana still dwells. Vamana, the Dwarf Incarnation of Vishnu, took away the Triloki from him and replaced him here. His enjoyments even here are greater than those of Indra. He performs Sva-dharma and worships Vishnu. His sins are all removed.

(A full account of Bali will be given below.)

_Talatala_: - Below Sutala is Talatala. Maya, the Danava king, rules there. His "Three Puras" (abodes) were destroyed by Siva who is hence called Tripurari. But Siva favoured him again and placed him in Talatala. He is the preceptor of all Mayavins. He is preserved by Siva and he has no fear from Sudarsana (the chakra weapon of Vishnu, which symbolises Time.)

(Bali and Maya, Triloki and Tripura, the seizure of one and the destruction of the other, the restoration of Bali to Sutala and of Maya to Talatala, the favour shown to them in those regions, the correspondences of Sutala and Talatala are worth careful consideration.

In the case of one, Vishnu or the Preservative aspect of the Second Purusha is the actor, and in the other, Siva, the Destructive aspect.)

_Mahatala_: - Below Talatala is Mahatala. Many headed serpents, the progeny of Kadru, dwell there. The chief amongst them are Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kaliya, Sushena, and others. They are always afraid of Garuda, the Vehicle of Vishnu, and they are therefore seldom seen to indulge in pleasure-trips outside.

_Rasatala_: - Below Mahatala is Rasatala; Daityas, Danavas and Panis, named Nivatakavachas, Kalakeyas and Hiranyapuravasins dwell there. They are the enemies of the Devas. They are powerful from their very birth.

They are subdued by the Sudarsana of Vishnu. They are like serpents.

They fear even the threats of Sarama, the b.i.t.c.h of the G.o.ds who is Indra's messenger to them. They fear Indra also.

_Patala_: - Below Rasatala is Patala. The Nagas dwell there. Vasuki is their chief. The other princ.i.p.al Nagas are - Sankha, Kulika, Maha Sankha, Sveta, Dhananjaya, Asvatara, and Devadatta. Their hood is very large and they are very furious. Some of them are five headed, some 7 headed, some 10 headed, some a thousand headed. The precious stones on their hoods dispel all darkness in Patala.

ANANTA.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 25.*

At the root of Patala, thirty thousand Yojanas beyond, is the Tamas aspect of Bhagavan called Ananta. Those that worship the Chaturvyuha aspect call him Sankarshana. He has a thousand heads. The earth held up on one of these heads looks but like a mustard seed. When the time for dissolution comes, Ananta a.s.sumes His Tamas form and becomes Rudra - other wise called Sankarshana, a host of eleven, with three eyes, three tufts of hair and with tridents on their heads. At other times, Ananta withdraws His Tamas and abides for the good of all Lokas. His eyes roll as it were by intoxication. His garments are blue. He has one ear-ring.

He has a plough on his back.

THE NARAKAS.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 26.*

Where are the Narakas, O Rishi, asked Pariks.h.i.t? Are they particular localities? Are they outside the Triloki or inside?

Suka replied: -

They are inside the Triloki on the south side below the earth, over the waters, where Agnishvatta and other Pitris deeply meditate on the welfare of their respective descendants.

There, Yama, the Death-G.o.d, metes out just punishment to the dead.

There are twenty-one Narakas: -

1. Tamisra 2. Andha Tamisara 3. Rourava 4. Maharourava 5. k.u.mbhipaka 6. Kala Sutra 7. Asipatravana 8. Sukara Mukha 9. Andha Kupa 10. Krimi bhajana 11. Sandansa 12. Tapta Surmi 13. Vajra-Kantaka Salmali 14. Vaitarani 15. Puyoda 16. Pranarodha 17. Vaisasana 18. Lalabhaksha 19. Sarameyadana 20. Avichi and 21. Ayahpana.

There are seven other Narakas:

1. Kshara Kardama 2. Rakshogana bhojana 3. Sulaprota 4. Danda Suka 5. Avata-nirodhana 6. Parya vartana and 7. Suchi mukha.

(For details of these Narakas, the reader is referred to the original.

They are more for the exoteric than for the esoteric reader.)

There are hundreds and thousands of such Narakas in the realms of Yama.

The vicious enter them by turns. The meritorious go to Svarga. But the Karma of men is not exhausted in Svarga or Naraka. For that which remains unexhausted, they enter life again by re-birth.

(The mention of Pitris and Yama connects the Narakas with the astral plane.)