The Pâtâlas
Skandha V. Chap. 24
Ten thousand Yojanas below the Sun is Râhu, son of Sinhika. Though an Asura, by favour of Bhagavân he became a planet and immortal too like the Devas.
Ten thousand Yojanas below Râhu is the abode of the Siddhas, Châranas and Vaidyâdharas.
Below that is the abode of the Yakshas, Râkshasas, Pisâchas, Pretas, and Bhûtas. 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 Patâlas: — Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talâtala, Mahâtala, Rasâtala and Pâtâla. They are ten thousand Yojanas apart from each other.
In these nether Svargas, Daityas, Dânavas and Nâgas 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 Îsvara, their desires are always gratified.
Mâyâ, the Dânava 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 Pâtâla 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 Bhagavân (i.e. final extinction).
Atala: — Bala, the son of Maya resides in Atala (Maya is a masculine form of Mâyâ the root Prakriti). He created here 96 forms of Mâyâ. The Mâyâvins (those who practice Magic) still have recourse to those forms. When he yawns, three classes of women spring into existence viz:
Svairini (self willed loose women),
Kâmini (passionate women) and
Punschali (unchaste women).
If any one enters Atala these women completely allure him by their Hâtaka (golden) charm, and when the man is completely overcome by their allurements, he says “I am Îsvara”, “I am Siddha.”
[The women are only forms of Mâyâ because Mâyâ is personified as an alluring woman. A man in Atala is completely under the domination of Mâyâ and becomes estranged from spirit. So Mâyâ is all in all to him and he knows no other.]
Vitala: — Below Atala is Vitala. There Bhava (Śiva) the king of Gold reigns in company with his consort Bhavâni, attended by Bhûtas. He remains there for the benefit of the Prajâpati creation. The fluid of intercourse with Bhavâni gives rise to a river called Hâtaki (Golden). Agni kindled by Vâyu drinks up that river and gives out the gold called Hâtaka which is used in ornaments by the Asuras who dwell there.
(We have known Śiva 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 Hâtaka. The occult varieties of gold such as Jâmvanada and Hâtaka form a fit subject of study. Hâtaka refers to the Prajâpati creation. There is duality in Vitala, as distinguished from the singleness of Mâyâ in Atala).
Sutala: — Below Vitala is Sutala. There the renowned Bali son of Virochana still dwells. Vâmana, the Dwarf Incarnation of Vishnu, took away the Trilokî 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.)
Talâtala: — Below Sutala is Talâtala. Mâyâ, the Dânava king, rules there. His “Three Puras” (abodes) were destroyed by Śiva who is hence called Tripurari. But Śiva favoured him again and placed him in Talâtala. He is the preceptor of all Mâyâvins. He is preserved by Śiva and he has no fear from Sudarsana (the chakra weapon of Vishnu, which symbolises Time.)
(Bali and Mâyâ, Trilokî and Tripura, the seizure of one and the destruction of the other, the restoration of Bali to Sutala and of Mâyâ to Talâtala, the favour shown to them in those regions, the correspondences of Sutala and Talâtala 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, Śiva, the Destructive aspect.)
Mahâtala: — Below Talâtala is Mahâtala. Many headed serpents, the progeny of Kadru, dwell there. The chief amongst them are Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kâliya, 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.
Rasâtala: — Below Mahatala is Rasâtala; Daityas, Dânavas and Panis, named Nivatakavachas, Kâlakeyas and Hiranyapuravâsins 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 Saramâ, the bitch of the gods who is Indra’s messenger to them. They fear Indra also.
Pâtala: — Below Rasâtala is Pâtala. The Nâgas dwell there. Vasûki is their chief. The other principal Nâgas are — Sankha, Kulika, Mahâ 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 Pâtala.