#297 Paying the price for our wrong actions (24 Naraka-s/Hells)
In this Kali Yuga, we see criminals and the corrupt getting away scot-free without having to pay for their acts of crime. Seems so unfair! And here we are, honest people plodding away at a difficult life.
Only through the law of Karma do we understand, that if criminals have still not been arrested, it is because of their punya. A criminal may escape the law of land but cannot escape the law of Karma presided over by Bhagavan. Any person who commits adharma will suffer the consequences while living or may actually go to naraka.
Naraka is the Vedic equivalent to hell, with the difference that, naraka is a place you go to and come back, unlike the concept of hell in Christianity. There is no concept of eternal damnation here because people who incur päpa would go to naraka, a place of pain, after death for a period of time.
Yamaraja is the god of death. In the Puranas, there are references to three periods when there was no Yama. One such period was in Satya Yuga. At that time, there was no death on Earth, which became overcrowded with living beings. Unable to bear their weight, the earth sank down to a depth of 100 Yojanas. Bhudevi, the goddess in the form of Earth, offered tearful prayers to Maha Vishnu, who incarnated as Varaha and lifted up the earth 100 yojanas (Mahabharata, Vanaparva – Chapter 142),
So, what is Yamaraja ‘s role?
When the life span of each living being allotted by Brahma is at an end, Yama sends his agents and takes the Jeeva to Yamapuri, the city of Yama. From there, the jivas are sent to svarga if they have a lot of punya in the account or the paapis, are sent to Naraka.
The Bhagavata Purana states that Svarga is the realm for the one who is able to discriminate between right and wrong, loves other people, engages in good deeds or Dharma for them. The good, the virtuous, and the devoted are described to be able to achieve the abode. It is stated to be a realm of gratification, where one is able to appreciate divine music, divine beauty, and divine objects. There is no ageing nor disease and one enjoys youth for the entire duration. The duration of one’s stay in this loka is determined by the punya(virtue) one has accumulated. The Gita points out that when one’s punya runs out, then one is back to martya-loka, the world of the mortals.
Chapter 14 of the Garuda Purana describes Yamapuri, the city of Yama. It is 1000 yojanas in extent. A yojana is about 12-15 kms. So, Yamapuri has a span of 12000-15000 kms. There is an entrance on each of the four sides. On one side of the city stands Chitragupta’s mansion. The fort surrounding the city is made up of iron. There are a hundred streets in Yamapuri. They are all decorated with banners and festoons.
There is a group of people in Chitragupta’s mansion. They are engaged in calculating the life span of living beings which further takes into account the punya and paapa of human beings. Chitragupta serves as the registrar or the Chief Accountant of the dead. Upon the death of a human and their arrival at Yamaloka, Chitragupta reads out their deeds, allowing the god of death, Yama to decide whether they go to Svarga or Naraka depending on their actions on earth.
To the south of Chitragupta’s residence is situated Jvara Mandira, the abode of diseases. Adjacent to it are the abodes of all kinds of diseases, each disease having its own abode. Yama’s home is situated at a distance of 20 yojanas from the abode of Chitrapupta. On one side of it there is an extensive assembly hall. It is here, that those who have led dharmic lives in the world find their abode after death. They lead a life of heavenly bliss.
Naraka (Hell) – There is a world called pitr-loka, in the middle of the three worlds on their southern side, below the earth and above the Atala loka. The Agnishvaatas and other pitr-s stay there in meditative trance for securing prosperity to those who come to pitr-loka.
Yama is the ruler of Pitrloka. Since he is so scrupulous in imparting justice, Yama is also called Yamadharma. He administers justice with an even hand to all living beings brought there by his agents. He has the power to assess the punya and papa of people and to assign suitable punishments to them, but not to alter the laws or methods of punishment. The paapis or sinners are sent to the different narakas by Yamadharma according to the nature and seriousness of their papas. The Puranas refer to 28 narakas.
Please note that some graphic descriptions of suffering follow. Depending on the wrong actions we have committed we get a glimpse of the price we are going to pay.
Hearing about these gory descriptions also motivates us to move away from wrong actions and align ever more strongly to Dharma.
In a strange way, the fear of suffering is a greater motivator than the pursuit of happiness, which can only come through Dharma.
Viewer/Listener discretion is advised.
The 28 Narakas are –
Taamishram – Those who rob others of their wealth, wives, children, etc, are bound with ropes by Yama ‘s servants and cast into the Naraka known as Tamisram. There, they are given a sound beating until they faint. After they recover their senses, the beating is repeated, and those who try to escape are bound, hand and foot and pushed again into this place. This is repeated, as long as the bundle of Karma is exhausted.
Andhataamtsram – This hell is intended for the wife who takes food after deceiving the husband, or the husband who takes food after deceiving his wife. The punishment here is the same as that of Taamishram, except the beating. But the excruciating pain suffered by the victims on being tied fast with Yama’s rope by his servants, makes them fall down senseless.
Rauravam – This is the Naraka into which those who have persecuted other living beings are cast. Those who seize and enjoy another man’s property or resources also come under ‘persecution’. When such people are thrown into this Rauravam, those whom they had persecuted or cheated while on earth assume the shape of ‘ruru’, which is a kind of a dreadful serpent, and torments them severely. It is known as Rauravam because of the abundance of ‘ruru’ serpents.
Mahaarauravam Here also there are ruru serpents. Only, they are of a fiercer type. Those who deny the legitimate heirs, their inheritance and possess and enjoy other people’s property are squeezed to death by these terrible serpents coiling around them.
Kumbhipaakam This is the Naraka for the punishment of those who kill and eat birds and animals. Here, oil is kept boiled in huge vessels. Yama ‘s servants plunge sinners into this oil. The period of their torture extends to as many years as there were hair on the bodies of the birds or animals which they killed and ate.
Kaalasutram This Naraka is terribly hot. It is here that those who do not respect their father, mother, elders, etc, are cast. They rush about in the unbearable heat of this Naraka and drop down exhausted from time to time.
Asitapatram This is the Naraka in which those papis who abandon Svadharma and one’s own duty and accept Paradharma (the others duty) are flogged by Yama’s servants with whips made of Asipatra, sharp-edged sword-shaped leaves. When they run about, under the flogging, they trip over stones and thorns and fall on their faces. Then, they are stabbed with knives made of asipatra. They drop down unconscious, and when they recover their senses, the same process is repeated.
Sukaramukham Kings who neglect their duties and oppress their subjects by misrule, are punished in this Naraka. They are crushed to a pulp by beating until they fall down unconscious, and when they recover, they are again subjected to the same treatment.
Andhakupam This is the Naraka for punishing those who oppress Brahmanas, Devatas and the poor. In this Kupa, Well there are wild beasts like tiger, bear and carnivorous birds like eagle, kite, venomous creatures like snakes and scorpions and insects like bugs and mosquitoes. The paapis or sinners have to endure the constant attacks of these creatures until the expiry of the period of their punishment.
Krmibhojanam (food for worms). Depraved Brahmins who take their food without worshiping devatas and honoring guests, are thrown into this Krimibhojana which is one lakh yojanas in length. Worms, insects and serpents sting them and eat them up. Once their bodies are completely eaten up by these creatures, they are provided with new bodies which are also eaten up in the above manner. They have to continue there in this manner till the end of their term of punishment.
Taptamurti – Those who plunder or steal other people’s gold, jewels, ornaments or money are cast into the furnaces of this Naraka, which is built of iron and always remains red hot with blazing fire.
Shaalmali. This Naraka is intended for men and women who have committed adultery. A figure made of iron, heated, red hot, is placed here. The victim is urged to embrace it. Yama’s servants flog the victim from behind.
Vajrakanthakashaali – This Naraka is for the punishment of those who have unnatural intercourse with cows and other animals. Here, the guilty people are made to embrace iron images full of diamond needles.
Vaitarani – This Naraka is for kings who have violated all ordinances of Shastras and for adulterers. It is a most terrible place of punishment. Vaitarani is a river filled with human excreta, urine, blood, hair, bones, nails, flesh, fat and all kinds of dirty substances. There are various kinds of ferocious beasts in it. Those who are cast into it are attacked and mauled by these creatures from all sides. The paapis have to spend the term of their punishment feeding upon the contents of this river
Puyodakam This is a well filled with excreta, urine, blood, phlegm, etc. Brahmins and others who have intercourse with women of low varna, against customs ordinances, etc, vagabonds who wander about irresponsibly like animals and birds and other such paapis are cast into this Naraka.
Praanarodham This Naraka is for the punishment of Brahmins who keep dogs, asses and other mean animals and constantly hunt and kill animals for food. Here, the servants of Yama gather around the sinners and cut them limb by limb with their arrows and subject them to constant insult.
Vishasanam This Naraka is for the torture of those who perform yajna by killing cows to display their wealth and splendor. They will have to remain there during the whole term of their punishment under the constant flogging of Yama’s servants.
Laalaabhaksham This is the Naraka for lustful people. The lustful person who makes his wife, swallow semen is cast into this Naraka. Laalaabhaksham is a sea of semen. The sinner lies in it, feeding upon semen alone.
Saarameyaashanam Those guilty of unsocial acts like inciting violence, burning property, poisoning food, mass slaughter, ruining the country, etc, are cast into this Naraka. There nothing but the flesh of dogs is available for food. There are 700 dogs in that Naraka, and all of them are as ferocious as leopards. They attack the sinners who come there from all sides and tear their flesh from their bodies with their teeth.
Avici This Naraka is for those guilty of bearing false witness, false swearing, or assuming false names. They are hurled into Avici from a mountain which is 100 yojanas in height. The whole region of Avicii is always shaken like an ocean with turbulent waves. As soon as the sinners fall into it, they are utterly smashed into dust. They are again restored to life, and the punishment is repeated.
Ayahpaanam Those who belong to the first three varnas – Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas, who indulge in drinking alcohol, are bound and thrown into this Naraka. They are forced to drink melted iron in liquid form.
Kshaarakardamam Braggarts and those who insult people of noble birth are cast into this place here. Yama’s servants keep the sinners upside down and torture them in various ways.
23. Rakshobhaksham This Naraka is for the punishment of meat eaters. There are separate compartments in this Naraka for those who perform human sacrifice, eat human flesh or the flesh of other creatures. All the living beings they had killed before would have arrived here in advance. They would all join together in attacking, biting and mauling these people. Their shrieks and complaints would be of no avail there.
24. Shulaprotam People who take the lives of others who have done no harm to them by deceiving them or by treachery with weapons like the trident are thrown into this Naraka. Yama ‘s servant fix each of these sinners on the top of a trident. They are forced to spend the whole term of their punishment in that position, suffering intense thirst and hunger, enduring all the tortures inflicted on them.
25. Dandashukam Paapis or sinners who persecute fellow creatures like venomous serpents are cast into this Naraka. There are many wild beasts and many hooded serpents here. They eat alive, the sinners who fall into this Naraka.
26. VaTarodham This naraka is for those who persecute the creatures living on mountain peaks, dense forests, hollow trunks of trees, etc. It resembles mountains, caves, forests. After throwing them into this Naraka, the sinners are tortured with fire, snake, poison and weapons, just as they had tortured other creatures while on earth.
27. Paryaavartanakam One who denies food to a person who happens to come at meal time and abuses him, is thrown into this Naraka. The moment he falls into it, his eyes are pierced with the beaks of cruel birds like the crow and the eagle. It is a most painful experience for them.
28. Suchimukham Proud and Miserly people who refuse to spend money, even for the bare necessities of life, find their place in this Naraka. Those who do not repay the money they have borrowed will also be cast into this Naraka here. Their bodies will be continually pricked and pierced with needles.
So, these were the descriptions of Naraka from the Devi Bhagavatam, Eighth Skandha and Vishnu Purana, Part two, Chapter Six.
Hearing this might have brought you relief or sadness. Most importantly, now that we are aware and want to avoid suffering, we will think twice before doing the wrong thing.
Besides dispensing justice, Yamaraja is also a teacher of self-knowledge. He taught Brahmavidya to Nachiketa, a young boy and blessed him with boons too. If you attain moksha ofcourse, you will not have rebirth.
Although a Devata, Yamaraja is rarely welcomed by anyone, shunned by everyone due to the fear of death and yet, not only does he perform his responsibilities but he is also a wise being.
Namah to Yamaraja who teaches us the value of life, at the relative level and at the absolute level.
