In the realm of consequences for one’s actions, the commission of sins results in enduring torment within the depths of hell (Naraka). This form of punishment, as outlined in the Bhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam), is believed to serve a dual purpose: purification and deterrence. Through the ordeal of hellish suffering, the individual’s soul is cleansed, paving the way for future enlightenment and liberation from sinful tendencies, in subsequent lifetimes. The Bhagavata Purana meticulously describes 28 infernal realms (hells), each reserved for specific wrongdoers based on the nature of their sins. This divine justice system operates on the principle of just desserts, ensuring that the punishment fits the crime. It is a testament to the profound understanding of the intricate interplay between actions and consequences within the cosmic order. Among those who arrogantly deny the existence of God and the laws of Nature, a belief in absolute freedom to indulge in sin prevails. However, despite their misguided sense of autonomy, they remain subject to the immutable laws of the material world. As a result, they inadvertently accumulate the weight of their transgressions and must face the repercussions in the afterlife.
Thus, the hellish planets loom as a realm of reckoning, where sinners confront the harrowing outcomes of their misdeeds. This divine justice system, characterized by its precision and fairness, serves as a pivotal element in the grand tapestry of existence. The descriptions of these infernal realms found below shed light on the profound intricacies of cosmic justice and the path toward spiritual redemption.
Description of 28 hellish Realms
Located on the southern side of the universe, between the three worlds and the Garbhodakasayi ocean, the hellish planets occupy an intermediary realm beneath the Bhu Mandala. Yamaraja, the formidable Lord of death, is the potent offspring of the sun god and makes his abode in Pitriloka, a planet positioned close to the Hellish realms. In his realm, sinful souls are brought to him by his agents known as Yamadutas. Yamaraja then impartially assesses these souls based on their Karma and metes out appropriate punishments by sending them to the hellish planets. Within the cosmic tapestry, numerous hellish planets abound, and among them, Bhagavata Purana meticulously depicts the intricate descriptions of 28 such realms.
Tamisra
When an individual wrongfully seizes another’s lawful spouse, children, or possessions, they are apprehended upon death by the fearsome Yamadutas. Bound by the unyielding rope of time, they are forcibly cast into the dreaded hellish realm known as Tamisra. In this abysmal and dimly lit planet, the sinner faces the relentless chastisement of the Yamadutas, who inflict beatings and scoldings upon him. Deprived of sustenance and water, the torment at the hands of Yamaraja’s wrathful assistants becomes excruciating, causing him to sometimes lose consciousness under the severity of their retribution.
Andha Tamisra
The deceitful individual who cunningly betrays and indulges in the wife and children of another is fated for the dreaded hell known as Andhatamisra. In this abode, his plight resembles that of a tree being ruthlessly cut down at its very roots. Even before reaching Andhatamisra, the sinful soul endures a series of excruciating miseries, so intense that he is robbed of his intelligence and vision. Such is the severity of these afflictions that wise sages rightfully term this hell Andhatamisra.
Raurava
The individual who identifies his body as his true self toils tirelessly day and night, striving for wealth to sustain not only himself but also his wife and children. Amidst this pursuit, he may resort to violence against other living beings. However, when his life draws to a close, he is compelled to relinquish his body and his family. The consequence of his envious actions towards other creatures awaits him in the form of being cast into the dreaded hell named Raurava. There, the living entities who suffered from his harmful actions manifest as rurus, appearing as animal-like creatures, inflicting excruciating pain upon him. The ruru is considered more envious than a snake, making the torment all the more intense for the envious soul.
Maha Raurava
The grim fate that awaits those who sustain themselves by inflicting harm upon others is inescapable, leading them to the dreaded realm known as Maharaurava. Within these fiery depths, the souls are subjected to the relentless torment of ruru creatures, aptly named kravyada, who gnaw at their flesh with insatiable hunger.
Kumbhipaka
Heartless individuals, driven by their desire for bodily sustenance and culinary pleasure, cruelly cook animals and birds alive. Unaware of the karmic consequences, they find themselves facing the Yamadutas, who take them to the dreaded hell known as Kumbhipaka. There, they are cooked in boiling oil as their punishment.
Kalasutra
The one who commits the grave offense of killing a brahmana finds himself condemned to the torment of the dreaded hell called Kalasutra. This infernal realm stretches across a vast circumference of eighty thousand miles and is entirely crafted from copper. With relentless intensity, it is heated from below by blazing fires and from above by the scorching rays of the sun, making its copper surface unbearably hot. Within the searing confines of Kalasutra, the murderer of a brahmana endures excruciating agony, being burned both internally and externally. Hunger and thirst gnaw at his very being, while the fierce heat from above and below engulfs him. This unrelenting torment forces him to writhe in pain, as he constantly shifts between lying down, sitting, standing, and running, seeking temporary respite from the overwhelming suffering. The cruel soul must endure this dreadful punishment for countless thousands of years, as each moment stretches into an eternity of remorse and retribution. As the consequences of his heinous act manifest, the magnitude of his crime becomes starkly apparent, serving as a solemn reminder of the immutable law of cause and effect.
Asi Patravana
Those who deviate from the path of the Vedas without any valid justification find themselves subjected to the wrath of Yamaraja’s servants, who cast them into the dreadful hell known as Asi Patravana. In this abode of torment, they are relentlessly beaten with whips. As they attempt to escape the excruciating pain, they run in all directions, only to collide with palm trees whose leaves resemble sharp swords. These painful encounters leave their bodies severely injured, and at every step, they feel faint, crying out in desperation, “What can I do? How can I be saved!”.
Sukaramukha
A wicked king or a governmental official who unjustly punishes an innocent individual or inflicts physical harm upon a brahmana is led by the Yamadutas to the dreaded hell known as Sukaramukha. Within this infernal realm, the formidable aides of Yamaraja subject him to a merciless fate, akin to crushing sugarcane to extract its juice. In the clutches of Sukaramukha, the sinful soul wails pitifully and loses consciousness, much like an innocent man enduring cruel punishment. This distressing outcome is the consequence of persecuting a blameless being.
Andhakupa
Under the divine orchestration of the Supreme Lord, lesser creatures like bugs and mosquitoes unknowingly feed on the blood of humans and other animals. Oblivious to the pain they cause, these insignificant beings go about their survival instinct. However, the enlightened consciousness of human beings enables them to understand the agony of being harmed. A person endowed with knowledge commits a sinful act if he needlessly kills or torments these insignificant creatures, who lack discrimination. The Supreme Lord, in His justice, condemns such an individual to the torment of hell called Andhakupa. In this accursed realm, he is besieged by all the creatures he tormented during his life – birds, beasts, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies, and every other creature. They relentlessly attack him from all sides, depriving him of the solace of sleep. Restless and unable to find peace, he wanders aimlessly in the darkness, his suffering mirroring that of a creature from the lower species.
Krimibhojana
Indulging selfishly in one’s food without sharing it with guests, elderly, and children, or neglecting the performance of the five types of sacrifices leads to a lack of virtue in a person. As a consequence of such actions, after death, he is condemned to the loathsome realm of Krimibhojana. This abominable hell features a vast lake stretching over 100,000 yojanas (approximately 800,000 miles) in width, swarming with repulsive worms. The sinner is transformed into a worm within this nightmarish lake. In this gruesome domain, the sinful soul not only feeds upon other worms but also becomes the prey of fellow worms who, in turn, consume him. The relentless cycle of consumption and being consumed becomes his relentless and tormenting reality in the hellish lake of Krimibhojana. To escape this ghastly fate, the sinner must sincerely repent and atone for his transgressions before death. Without such redemption, he remains trapped in the lake of Krimibhojana, suffering for 100,000 years.
Sandamsa
A person who, without any genuine urgency, resorts to robbing a brahmana or anyone else of their precious gems and gold is condemned to the dreadful hell called Sandamsa. In this nightmarish realm, his skin is mercilessly torn apart and separated by searing red hot iron balls and tongs. The horrifying ordeal leaves his entire body subjected to agonizing dismemberment, inflicting unimaginable suffering upon him.
Taptasurmi
Individuals who engage in sexual intercourse with unworthy partners of the opposite sex face retribution at the hands of Yamaraja’s assistants in the dreaded hell named Taptasurmi. Within this harrowing realm, they endure painful beatings with whips as a consequence of their actions. The male wrongdoer is compelled to embrace a red hot iron effigy of a woman, while the female transgressor is forced to embrace a similar form of a man. This excruciating punishment serves as the stern consequence for indulging in illicit sex.
Vajrakantaka Salmali
After death, an individual who engages in indiscriminate sexual acts, even involving animals, is led to the dreaded hell called Vajrakantaka salmali. Within this hellish realm, there stands a silk cotton tree adorned with thorns as potent as thunderbolts. The minions of Yamaraja take the sinful soul and hang him upon that tree, forcefully dragging him down so that the thorns mercilessly rend his body, inflicting excruciating pain.
Vaitarani
A person born into a noble and responsible family, such as royalty, or a government servant, yet fails to fulfill his prescribed duties in accordance with religious principles, thereby descending into degradation. Upon death, he plummets into the dreadful river of hell called Vaitarani. This river encircles the realm of hell and is infested with ferocious aquatic creatures. As the sinful soul is cast into Vaitarani, the aquatic beasts immediately begin to devour him. However, due to the extreme wickedness of his life, he remains trapped in his mortal body. Endlessly, he reminisces about his sinful deeds, enduring excruciating suffering in the midst of a vile river teeming with filth – stool, urine, pus, blood, hair, nails, bones, marrow, flesh, and fat.
Puyoda
Men who shamelessly marry lowborn sudra women end up leading lives akin to animals, lacking proper conduct, cleanliness, or discipline. Upon their demise, these individuals are cast into the dreaded hell known as Puyoda. There, they are submerged in a revolting ocean filled with pus, stool, urine, mucus, saliva, and other repulsive substances. Those sudras who fail to uplift themselves and improve their ways are consigned to this grotesque ocean and are compelled to consume these abhorrent substances.
Pranarodha
In this earthly existence, should a man of the higher classes develop an excessive fondness for taking his pet dogs, mules, or asses into the forest to hunt and kill animals needlessly, he is destined, after death, for the dreaded hell called Pranarodha. Within this infernal realm, the relentless assistants of Yamaraja single him out as their target and unleash a barrage of arrows, piercing him relentlessly.
Visasana
Those who, in their present life, harbor excessive pride in their elevated status and callously sacrifice animals merely to bolster their material reputation are condemned to the hell known as Visasana upon their demise. Within this dreadful realm, the minions of Yamaraja subject them to unfathomable agony before ultimately ending their lives.
Lalabhaksa
A person who, driven by foolish desires and lust, compels his wife to consume his semen in a bid to control her, faces severe consequences after death. He is condemned to the dreaded hell named Lalabhaksa. In this nightmarish realm, he is cast into a river of flowing semen, as a punishment for his reprehensible actions.
Sarameyadana
In this world, there are individuals who adopt the vile profession of plundering others, setting fire to their homes or poisoning them. Some members of royalty and government officials resort to extortion, compelling merchants to pay hefty income taxes and using other unjust methods to rob them. After death, these people are condemned to the dreadful hell named Sarameyadana. In this terrifying realm, 720 ferocious dogs await them, with teeth as mighty as thunderbolts. Following the commands of Yamaraja’s agents, these dogs ravenously consume such sinful souls, delivering the retribution they deserve for their wicked deeds.
Avicimat
A person who bears false witness, lies while conducting business, or engages in deceitful charity is met with severe punishment after death by Yamaraja’s agents. This sinful individual is taken to a towering mountain, 800 miles high, and hurled headfirst into the dreaded hell called Avicimat. This hell offers no refuge and is constructed from sturdy stone that resembles water waves. Curiously, despite the repeated fallings and the breaking of his body into tiny fragments, the sinner does not succumb but endures relentless torment.
Ahaypana
Those who drink liquor, whether they are brahmanas or the wives of brahmanas, are led to the hell called Ayahpana by Yamaraja’s agents. Similarly, Kings, merchants, or other individuals under a vow who consume soma-rasa (intoxicants) in a state of illusion face the same fate. In Ayahpana, the agents of Yamaraja inflict torment by standing on their chests and pouring hot melted iron into their mouths.
Ksarakardama
An abominable person who arrogantly becomes falsely proud, lacking respect for those more elevated than him in qualities, austerity, education, behavior, or spiritual order, is akin to a lifeless being even while alive. After death, he faces dire consequences and is thrown headfirst into the dreaded hell called Ksarakardama. In this infernal realm, he endures tremendous suffering at the hands of Yamaraja’s agents.
Raksogana bhojana
In this world, some individuals perform gruesome human sacrifices to deities like Bhairava or Bhadra Kali, consuming the flesh of their victims. After death, these sacrificers are taken to Yamaraja’s realm, where their victims, now transformed into Raksasas, exact revenge by dismembering them with sharp swords. Similar to how the sacrificers celebrated by drinking their victims’ blood in the mortal realm, the tables have turned, and the victims now revel in drinking the sacrificers’ blood, rejoicing in the same gruesome manner.
Sulaprota
Some individuals in this world deceitfully offer shelter to animals and birds in villages or forests, only to betray them later. They play with these innocent creatures as if they were toys, causing them immense pain by piercing them with lances or threads. After death, these cruel people are brought by Yamaraja’s assistants to the hell called Sulaprota, where their bodies are impaled with sharp, needle-like lances. They endure hunger and thirst while sharp-beaked birds like vultures and herons mercilessly attack their bodies from all directions, tearing at their flesh. In their agonizing state, they vividly recall the sinful deeds they committed in the past.
Dandasuka
Those who lead envious lives, perpetually filled with anger and causing suffering to other living beings, find themselves descending into the hellish realm called Dandasuka after death. In this hell, they are confronted by serpents with five or seven hoods, which devour them in a manner similar to how snakes consume mice.
Avata Nirodhana
Those who, in their lives, imprison other living beings in dark wells, granaries, or mountain caves, face punishment after death in the hell called Avata-nirodhana. In this hellish realm, they experience a cruel fate as they are confined to dark wells where poisonous fumes and suffocating smoke torment them intensely.
Paryavartana
A householder who welcomes guests with harsh and malicious glances, seemingly wishing to incinerate them, is condemned to the hell named Paryāvartana. In this dreadful realm, he endures the piercing gazes of hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows, and similar birds, which swoop down abruptly to violently pluck out his eyes.
Sucimukha
A person in this world who takes great pride in his wealth, considering himself unmatched, suffers from a distorted perspective. He constantly fears losing his riches and even suspects those above him. The thought of losing his wealth leaves him distressed, and his appearance resembles that of a wretched fiend. Despite his wealth, he remains unable to find true happiness and lives in perpetual anxiety. For his sinful deeds in acquiring, increasing, and protecting his wealth, he is cast into the hell named Sucimukha. Here, the officials of Yamaraja punish him by inflicting a torment akin to weavers sewing threads through his entire body, as if crafting cloth.