What Is Naraka? | Metaphysics Knowledge By on February 2, 2013 Naraka Punishments Naraka is the Hindi name for hell. Hell as we all know is the place where souls go after death. It is said that when one does a lot of sins in this life then they are sent to hell. In the hell the souls are punished and tortured for the sins that they have done during their life time. We will now discuss what is naraka? In more detail so that you get a better idea as to what our scriptures have to say about it. What Does Naraka Mean? This is primarily a Sanskrit word. It means the underworld. The concept is present in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. The concept has basically come from the Vedas. The Vedas clearly mention that the naraka is the place where the souls are sent to get rid of the sins that they have done during their life time. When you read the vedas and the Upanishads you will find the mention of naraka many a times. It is described as a place that is dark. It is very close to the core of the earth as a result it is very hot.

The lord of death Yama decides what would be the appropriate punishment for the souls. There are many punishments that are designed like putting the soul in burning water or oil. Once after these tortures the souls are made free of all the sins. These souls are set free and they can get Moksha. Moksha means salvation. Other souls once they are purified of the sins are born again and they live another life on earth. The reincarnation also depends on the deeds. A person who did good deeds will get a better life and vice versa. The duration of the punishment and the tortures are decided by the lord of death Yama. When the sins are more the duration of the torture is longer and vice versa. Yama has an assistant named Chitragupta. He keeps a track of all the sins and the good deeds that one commits during life time. When a dead person goes to Chitragupat he decides if the person should be sent to haven (swarg) or hell (naraka). He also decides what should be the duration of the punishment or torture. There are many characters from the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana who have spent some time in hell.

This was just to ensure that they are purified of the sins that they have committed. The same concept of naraka is found in Buddhism and Jainism. Interesting perhaps this was one of the ways that the saints in the olden days thought would ensure that people don’t get into wrong deeds. The fear of naraka would also ensure that no one does or commits any sins. This would help people live a better and pure life. This would make people more religious. I hope we have been able to explain what Naraka is. This is basically an idea about the naraka as it is explained in the scriptures. However, with time people really don’t fear about going to naraka. That is exactly why there are so many sins that are happening around. Some people also say that heaven and hell are on earth itself. Test Yourself The Buddhist Hell Realm By Barbara O'Brien Updated October 29, 2015. By my count, of the 31 realms of the old Buddhist cosmology, 25 are deva or "god" realms, which arguably qualifies them as "heavens." Of the remaining realms, usually only one is referred to as "hell," also called Niraya in Pali or Naraka in Sanskrit.

Naraka is one of the Six Realms of the World of Desire. Very briefly, the Six Realms are a description of different kinds of conditioned existence into which beings are reborn. The nature of one's existence is determined by karma . Some realms seem more pleasant than others -- heaven sounds preferable to hell -- but all are dukkha , meaning they are temporary and imperfect. Although some dharma teachers may tell you these realms are real,physical places, others regard the realms in many ways beside literal. They may represent one's own shifting psychological states, for example, or personality types. They can be understood as allegories of a kind of projected reality. Whatever they are -- heaven, hell or something else -- none are permanent. Origin of Hell A kind of "hell realm" or underworld called Narak or Naraka is also found in HInduism , Sikhism and Jainism. I understand the earliest use of the name is in the early HIndu Vedas (ca. 1500-1200 BCE). Yama , the Buddhist lord of the hell realm, made his first appearance in the Vedas as well. The early texts, however, describe Naraka only vaguely as a dark and depressing place.

During the 1st millennium BCE the concept of multiple hells took hold. These hells held different kinds of torments, and reincarnation into a hall depended on what sort of misdeeds one had committed. In time the karma of the misdeeds was spent, and one could leave. Early Buddhism had similar teachings about multiple hells. The biggest distinction is that the early Buddhist sutras stressed that there was no god or other supernatural intelligence passing judgments or making assignments. Karma, understood as a kind of natural law, would result in an appropriate rebirth. "Geography" of the Hell Realm Several texts in the Pali Sutta-pitaka describe the Buddhist Naraka. The Devaduta Sutta ( Majjhima Nikaya 130), for example, goes into considerable detail. It describes a succession of torments in which a person experiences the results of his own karma. This is gruesome stuff; the "wrongdoer" is pierced with hot irons, sliced with axes and burned with fire. He passes through a forest of thorns and then a forest with swords for leaves. His mouth is pried open and hot metal is poured into him. But he cannot die until the karma he created is exhausted.

As time went on, descriptions of the several hells grew more elaborate. Mahayana sutras name several hells and hundreds of sub-hells. Most often, though, in Mahayana one hears of eight hot or fire hells and eight cold or ice hells. The ice hells are above the hot hells. The ice hells are described as frozen, desolate plains or mountains where people must dwell naked. The ice hells are: Arbuda (hell of freezing while skin blisters) Nirarbuda (hell of freezing while the blisters break open) Atata (hell of shivering) Hahava (hell of shivering and moaning) Huhuva (hell of chattering teeth, plus moaning) Utpala (hell where one's skin turns as blue as a blue lotus) Padma (the lotus hell where one's skin cracks) Mahapadma (the great lotus hell where one becomes so frozen the body falls apart) The hot hells include place where one is cooked in cauldrons or ovens and trapped in white-hot metal houses where demons pierce one with hot metal stakes. People are cut apart with burning saws and crushed by huge hot metal hammers.

And as soon as someone is thoroughly cooked, burnt, dismembered or crushed, he or she comes back to life and goes through it all again. Common names for the eight hot hells are: Samjiva (hell of reviving or repeating attacks) Kalasutra (hell of black lines or wires; used as guides for the saws) Samghata (hell of being crushed by big hot things) Raurava (hell of screaming while running around on burning ground) Maharaurava (hell of great screaming while being eaten by animals) Tapana (hell of scorching heat, while being pierced by spears) Pratapana (hell of fiercely scorching heat while being pierced by tridents) Avici (hell without interruption while being roasted in ovens) As Mahayana Buddhism spread through Asia, "traditional" hells got mixed into local folklore about hells. The Chinese hell Diyu, for example, is an elaborate place cobbled together from several sources and ruled by Ten Yama Kings. Note that, strictly speaking, the Hungry Ghost realm is separate from the Hell Realm, but you don't want to be there, either. Seriously?

In my opinion, literal belief in these hells makes no sense on several levels. The way the hells are described suggest individual rebirth, for example, which is not what most of Buddhism teaches . If the point of them originally was to scare the stuffing out of people to keep them from going astray, I bet that more often than not, it worked. Read More: Naraka — NewBuddhist edited November 2010 in Buddhism Basics What are your view on the idea of Naraka? I must admit, that it was kind of a bummer to me, that the Tipitaka contains teachings such as the Devaduta Sutta, where Buddha explains how humans are tortured in hellish realms by being burnt, beaten, pierced with spears, eaten by monsters and other gruesome things. It seems so out of line with the vast amount of day-to-day advice on real life.. Suddenly the teachings are just another religious looney farm where sinners roast in hell.. Or?

0 Swarag and Naraka in Hinduism Swarag and Naraka in Hinduism Swarag In Hinduism, Svarga (or Swarga) (स्वर्ग) also known as Swarga Loka is a one of seven loka or planes in Hindu cosmology, which sequentially are Bhu loka (Prithvi Loka, Earth), Bhuvar loka, Swarga loka, Mahar loka, Jana loka, Tapa loka, and the highest Satyaloka (Brahmaloka). It set of heavenly worlds located on and above Mt. Meru. It is a heaven where the righteous live in a paradise before their next reincarnation. During each pralaya or the great dissolution, the first three realms are destroyed that is Bhu loka (Earth), Bhuvar loka, Swarga loka.

Below all these upper realms lie seven realms of Patala, the underworld and netherworld Svarga is seen as a transitory place for righteous souls who have performed good deeds in their lives but are not yet ready to attain moksha, or elevation to Vaikunta, the abode of Lord Vishnu, considered to be the Supreme Abode (Rig Veda (1.22.20) states, Om tad visnoh paramam padam sadā paśyanti sūrayah: "All the suras (i.e., the devas) look towards the feet of Lord Vishnu as the Supreme Abode"). The capital of Svarga is Amaravati and its entrance is guarded by Airavata. Svarga is presided over by Indra, the chief deva. This is a "Good and nice" kind of temporary heaven where the soul enjoys all its Punya karmam before attaining either moksha, or rebirth according to its Karma. Attaining heaven is not the final pursuit in Hinduism as heaven itself is ephemeral and related to physical body.

Being tied by the bhoot-tatvas, heaven cannot be perfect either and is just another name for pleasurable and mundane material life. According to Hindu cosmology, above the earthly plane, are other planes: 1. Bhuva Loka, 2. Swarga Loka, meaning Good Kingdom, is the general name for heaven in Hinduism, a heavenly paradise of pleasure, where most of the Hindu Devatas (Deva) reside along with the king of Devas, Indra, and beatified mortals. Some other planes are Mahar Loka, Jana Loka, Tapa Loka and Satya Loka. Since heavenly abodes are also tied to the cycle of birth and death, any dweller of heaven or hell will again be recycled to a different plane and in a different form as per the karma and 'maya' i.e. the illusion of Samsara. This cycle is broken only by self-realization by the Jivatma. This self-realization is Moksha (Turiya, Kaivalya). The concept of moksha is unique to Hinduism and is unparalleled. Moksha stands for liberation from the cycle of birth and death and final communion with Brahma.

With moksha, a liberated soul attains the stature and oneness with Brahma or Pramatma. Different schools such as Vedanta, Mimansa, Sankhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, and Yoga offer subtle differences in the concept of Brahma, obvious Universe, its genesis and regular destruction, Jivatma, Nature (Prakriti) and also the right way in attaining perfect bliss or moksha. In the Vaishnava traditions the highest heaven is Vaikuntha, which exists above the six heavenly lokas and outside of the mahat-tattva or mundane world. It's where eternally liberated souls who have attained moksha reside in eternal sublime beauty with Lakshmi and Narayana (a manifestation of Vishnu). Swarga: swarg heaven is a place on earth the abode of Atmans Souls in transit! all atmans souls until they get a suitable womb to manifest on Mother Earth wait in Swarga Heaven. Atmans in all their pristine beauty and purity when in Swarga Heaven enjoy the fruits of actions performed by them in past manifested lives! Every action is the prerogative of a physical being ... A body!

No Atman can ever perform an action on its own ... It has to manifest a body!! The Metal (Atman in its pristine form) in an ore (the massive cauldron of Cosmos) is inert unless the ore is cleaned (Karma performed) and the metal liberated from the impurities (the World of ignorance, the clutches of Maya) surrounding it! Every Atman manifests a body only to cleanse itself ... Nothing more! What more can be the goal of the metal hidden in the ore!! A layman may not easily understand but the rich ... Rich not in wealth but Spiritual understanding ... Understand this Eternal Truth. The total community of the West is living in a Swarga Heaven of their of their making ... They indulge yet remain happy! Reasons for their happiness ... The radiating glow on their face is something from within. They are at peace with their inner self . When dealing with others they do not intend to cheat ... Disturb the peace of their mind!! They practice Gita inherently in their daily lives whereas we Indians do not respect Gita and consider it an instrument for hiding our untruths (Giving false testimony after oath on Gita is a rampant practice in Indian courts). We preach ... What we do not follow!

We are the born Masters ... Yet poor in behavior!! To radiate the Eternal glow ... Speak Truth and learn to live in the present. Teach and preach only which you follow. Only then shall you reap the benefits of living in the swarga of your making. Every individual is a Cosmos unto himself ... Comparable to a particle of dust in the mighty Cosmos. What powers within the control of one, yet you feel humble ... Always lost in the bright illusion of the Nature. Out from the clutches ... You are free to become an Enlightened being, one only next to God!! Strive and make a Swarga of your own ... Only then can you hope to achieve what God destined for you. Why stoop low and enter the naraka (hell) in the present life. A poor destitute loitering among the waste dumps looking for food to eat? Suffering from incurable diseases and dependent on others, a burden unto himself? Some where in Life past or present you indulged in wrong Karma and incurred the wrath of God ... What more can you hope than going to a hell of your making! One reaps the fruits of Karma in this or after many manifestations.

Still, one can pray and atone for all sins in the present life! Why not earn the Grace of God and even while living in a swarga of your own making try to proceed on the path of Self Realization! Naraka (Hinduism) Naraka (नरक) is the Hindu equivalent of Hell, where sinners are tormented after death. It is also the abode of Yama, the god of Death. It is described as located in the south of the universe and beneath the earth. The number and names of hells as well as the type of sinners sent to a particular hell, varies from text to text, however many scriptures describe 28 hells. After death, messengers of Yama called Yamadutas bring all beings to the court of Yama, where he weighs the virtues and the vices of the being and passes a judgement, sending the virtuous to Svarga (heaven) and the sinners to one of the hells. The stay in Svarga or Naraka is generally described as temporary. After the quantum of punishment is over, the souls are reborn as lower or higher beings as per their merits.

In few texts, a hell is described to a bottomless pit of darkness where souls are trapped for eternity and deprived of rebirth. Location of Naraka The Bhagavata Purana describes Naraka as beneath the earth: between the seven realms of the underworld (Patala) and the Garbhodaka Ocean, which is the bottom of the universe. It is located in the South of the universe. Pitrloka, where the dead ancestors (Pitrs) headed by Agnisvāttā reside, is also located in this region. Yama, the Lord of Naraka, resides in this realm with his assistants. The Devi Bhagavata Purana mentions that Naraka is the southern part of universe, below the earth but above Patala. The Vishnu Purana mentions that it is located below the cosmic waters at the bottom of the universe. The Hindu epics too agree that Naraka is located in the South, the direction which is governed by Yama and is often associated with Death. Pitrloka is considered as the capital of Yama, from where Yama delivers his justice.

Administration of naraka The god of Death, Yama, employs Yama-dutas (messengers of Yama) or Yama-purushas, who bring souls of all beings to Yama for judgement. Generally, all living beings, including humans and animals, go to Yama's abode upon death where they are judged. However, very virtuous beings are taken directly to Svarga (heaven). People devoted to charity, especially donors of food, and eternal truth speakers are spared the justice of Yama's court. War-heroes who sacrifice their life and people dying in holy places like Kurukshetra are also described as avoiding Yama. Those who get moksha (salvation) also escape from the clutches of yamadutas. Those who are generous and ascetics are given preferential treatment when entering Naraka for judgement. The way is lighted for those who donated lamps, while those who underwent religious fasting are carried by peacocks and geese. Yama, as Lord of Justice, is called Dharma-raja. Yama sends the virtuous to Svarga to enjoy the luxuries of paradise.

He also assesses the vices of the dead and accords judgement, assigning them to appropriate hells as punishment commensurate with the severity and nature of their sins. A person is not freed of samsara (the cycle of birth-death-rebirth) and must take birth again after his prescribed pleasure in Svarga or punishment in Naraka is over. Yama is aided by his minister Chitragupta, who maintains a record of all good and evil actions of every living being. Yama-dhutas are also assigned the job of executing the punishments on sinners in the various hells. Number and names Naraka, as a whole, is known by many names conveying that it is the realm of Yama. Yamālaya, Yamaloka, Yamasādana and Yamalokāya mean the abode of Yama. Yamaksaya (the aksaya of Yama) and its equivalents like Vaivasvataksaya use pun for the word aksaya, which can be mean abode or destruction.

It is also called Samyamanī, "where only truth is spoken, and the weak torment the strong", Mrtyulokāya – the world of Death or of the dead and the "city of the king of ghosts", Pretarājapura. The Agni Purana mentions only 4 hells. Some texts mention 7 hells: Put ("childless", for the childless), Avichi ("waveless", for those waiting for reincarnated), Samhata ("abandoned", for evil beings), Tamisra ("darkness", where darkness of hells begin), Rijisha ("expelled", where torments of hell begin), Kudmala ("leprous", the worst hell for those who are going to be reincarnated) and Kakola ("black poison", the bottomless pit, for those who are eternally condemned to hell and have no chance of reincarnation).

The Manu Smriti mentions 21 hells: Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Maharaurava, Raurava, Kalasutra, Mahanaraka, Samjivana, Mahavichi, Tapana, Sampratapana, Samhata, Sakakola, Kudmala, Putimrittika, Lohasanku, Rijisha, Pathana, Vaitarani, Salmali, Asipatravana and Lohadaraka. The Yajnavalkya Smriti also lists twenty-one: Tamisra, Lohasanku, Mahaniraya, Salamali, Raurava, Kudmala, Putimrittika, Kalasutraka, Sanghata, Lohitoda, Savisha, Sampratapana, Mahanaraka, Kakola, Sanjivana, Mahapatha, Avichi, Andhatamisra, Kumbhipaka, Asipatravana and Tapana.

The Bhagavata Purana, the Vishnu Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana enlist and describe 28 hells, however, they end the description by stating that there are hundreds and thousands of hells. The Bhagavata Purana enumerates the following 28: Tamisra, Andhatamisra, Raurava, Maharaurava, Kumbhipaka, Kalasutra, Asipatravana, Shukaramukha, Andhakupa, Krimibhojana, Samdamsa, Taptasurmi, Vajrakantaka-salmali, Vaitarani, Puyoda, Pranarodha, Visasana, Lalabhaksa, Sarameyadana, Avichi, Ayahpana, Ksarakardama, Raksogana-bhojana, Sulaprota, Dandasuka, Avata-nirodhana, Paryavartana and Suchimukha. The Devi Bhagavata Purana agrees with the Bhagavata Purana in most of names, however few names are slightly different.

Taptasurmi, Ayahpana, Raksogana-bhojana, Avata-nirodhana, Paryavartana are replaced by Taptamurti, Apahpana, Raksogana-sambhoja, Avatarodha, Paryavartanataka respectively. The Vishnu Purana mentions the 28 in the following order: Raurava, Shukara, Rodha, Tala, Visasana, Mahajwala, Taptakumbha, Lavana, Vimohana, Rudhirandha, Vaitaraní, Krimiśa, Krimibhojana, Asipatravana, Krishna, Lalabhaksa, Dáruńa, Púyaváha, Pápa, Vahnijwála, Adhośiras, Sandansa, Kalasutra, Tamas, Avichi, Śwabhojana, Apratisht́ha, and another Avichi. Description of hells Early texts like Rigveda do not have a detailed description of Naraka. It is simply a place of evil and a dark bottomless pit.

The Atharvaveda describes a realm of darkness, where murderers are confined after death. The Shatapatha Brahmana is the first text to mention the pain and suffering of Naraka in detail, while the Manu Smriti begins naming the multiple hells. The epics also describe Hell in general terms as a dense jungle without shade, where there is no water and no rest. The Yamadutas torment souls on the orders of their master. The names of many of hells is common in Hindu texts, however the nature of sinners tormented in particular hells varies from text to text. The summary of twenty-eight hells described in the Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana are as follows: Tamisra (darkness): It is intended for a person who grabs another's wealth, wife or children. In this dark realm, he is bound with ropes and starved without food or water. He is beaten and reproached by Yamadutas till he faints. Andhatamisra (blind-darkness): Here, a man - who deceives another man and enjoys his wife or children - is tormented to the extent he loses his consciousness and sight.

The torture is described as cutting the tree at its roots. Raurava (fearful or hell of ruru s): As per the Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana , it is assigned for a person who cares about his own and his family's good, but harms other living beings and is always envious of others. The living beings hurt by such a man take the form of savage serpent-like beasts called ruru s and torture this person. The Vishnu Purana deems this hell fit for a false witness or one who lies. Maharaurava (great-fearful): A person who indulges at the expense of other beings is afflicted with pain by fierce ruru s called kravyada s, who eat his flesh. Kumbhipaka (cooked in a pot): A person, who cooks animals and birds, is cooked alive in boiling oil by Yamadutas here for as many years as there were hairs on the bodies of their animal victims.

Kalasutra (thread of Time/Death): The Bhagavata Purana assigns this hell to a murderer of a brahmin (the Hindu priestly caste), while the Devi Bhagavata Purana allocates it for a person who disrespects his parents, elders, ancestors or brahmins. This realm is made entirely of copper and extremely hot, heated by fire from below and the red hot sun from above. Here, the sinner burns from within by hunger and thirst and the smouldering heat outside, whether he sleeps, sits, stands or runs. Asipatravana/Asipatrakanana (forest of sword leaves): The Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana reserve this hell for a person who digresses from the religious teachings of the Vedas and indulges in heresy. The Vishnu Purana states that wanton tree-felling leads to this hell. Yamadutas beat them with whips as they try to run away in the forest where palm trees have swords as leaves. Afflicted with injury of whips and swords, they faint and cry out for help in vain.

Shukaramukha (hog's mouth): It houses kings or government officials who punish the innocent or grant corporal punishment to a Brahmin. Yamadutas crush him as sugar cane is crushed to extract juice. He will yell and scream in agony, just as the guiltless suffered. Andhakupa (well with its mouth hidden): It is the hell where a person who harms others with the intention of malice and harms insects is confined. He is attacked by birds, animals, reptiles, mosquitoes, lice, worms, flies and others, who deprive him of rest and compel him to run hither thither. Krimibhojana/Krimibhaksha (worm-food): As per the Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana , it is where a person who does not share his food with guests, elders, children or the gods, and selfishly eats it alone, and he who eats without performing the five yajnas ( panchayajna ) is chastised. The Vishnu Purana states that one who loathes his father, Brahmins or the gods and who destroys jewels is punished here.

This hell is a 100,000 yojana lake filled with worms. The sinful person is reduced to a worm, who feeds on other worms, who in turn devour his body for 100,000 years.> Sandansa/Sandamsa (hell of pincers): The Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana state that a person who robs a Brahmin or steals from someone jewels or gold, when not in dire need, is confined to this hell. However, the Vishnu Purana tells the violators of vows or rules endure pain here. His body is torn by red-hot iron balls and tongs. Taptasurmi/Taptamurti (red-hot iron statue): A man or woman who indulges in illicit sexual relations with a woman or man is beaten by whips and forced to embrace red-hot iron figurines of the opposite sex.

Vajrakantaka-salmali (the silk-cotton tree with thorns like thunderbolts/ vajras ): A person who has sexual intercourse with animals or who has excessive coitus is tied to the Vajrakantaka-salmali tree and pulled by Yamadutas so that the thorns tear his body. Vaitarni/Vaitarna (to be crossed): It is a river that is believed to lie between Naraka and the earth. This river, which forms the boundary of Naraka, is filled with excreta, urine, pus, blood, hair, nails, bones, marrow, flesh and fat, where fierce aquatic beings eat the person's flesh. As per the Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana , a person born in a respectable family - kshatriya (warrior-caste), royal family or government official - who neglects his duty is thrown into this river of hell. The Vishnu Purana assigns it to the destroyer of a bee-hive or a town.

Puyoda (water of pus): Shudras (workmen-caste) and husbands or sexual partners of lowly women and prostitutes - who live like animals devoid of cleanliness and good behaviour - fall in Puyoda, the ocean of pus, excreta, urine, mucus, saliva and other repugnant things. Here, they are forced to eat these disgusting things. Pranarodha (obstruction to life): Some Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas (merchant caste) indulge in the sport of hunting with their dogs and donkeys in the forest, resulting in wanton killing of animals. Yamadutas play archery sport with them as the targets in this hell. Visashana (murderous): The Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana mention that Yamadutas whip a person, who has pride of his rank and wealth and sacrifices animals as a status symbol, and finally kill him. The Vishnu Purana associates it with the maker of spears, swords, and other weapons.

Lalabhaksa (saliva as food): As per the Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana , a Brahmin, a Ksahtriya or a Vaishya husband, who forces his wife to drink his semen out of lust and to enforce his control, is thrown in a river of semen, which he is forced to drink.The Vishnu Purana disagrees stating that one who eats before offering food to the gods, the ancestors or guests is brought to this hell. Sarameyadana (hell of the sons of Sarama): Plunderers who burn houses and poison people for wealth, and kings and other government officials who grab money of merchants, mass murder or ruin the nation, are cast into this hell. Seven hundred and twenty ferocious dogs, the sons of Sarama , with razor-sharp teeth, prey on them at the behest of Yamadutas. Avici/Avicimat (waterless/waveless): A person, who lies on oath or in business, is repeatedly thrown head-first from a 100 yojana high mountain whose sides are stone waves, but without water.

His body is continuously broken, but it is made sure that he does not die. Ayahpana (iron-drink): Anybody else under oath or a Brahmin who drinks alcohol is punished here. Yamadutas stand on their chests and force them to drink molten-iron. Ksarakardama (acidic/saline mud/filth): One who in false pride, does not honour a person higher than him by birth, austerity, knowledge, behaviour, caste or spiritual order, is tortured in this hell. Yamadutas throw him head-first and torment him. Raksogana-bhojana (food of Rakshasas): Those who practise human-sacrifice and cannibalism are condemned to this hell. Their victims, in the form of Rakshasas , cut them with sharp knives and swords. The Rakshasas feast on their blood and sing and dance in joy, just as the sinners slaughtered their victims. Shulaprota (pierced by sharp pointed spear/dart): Some people give shelter to birds or animals pretending to be their saviours, but then harass them poking with threads, needles or using them like lifeless toys.

Also, some people behave the same way to humans, winning their confidence and then killing them with sharp tridents or lances. The bodies of such sinners, fatigued with hunger and thirst, are pierced with sharp, needle-like spears. Ferocious carnivorous birds like vultures and herons tear and gorge their flesh. Dandasuka (snakes): Filled with envy and fury, some people harm others like snakes. These are destined to devoured by five or seven hooded serpents in this hell. Avata-nirodhana (confined in a hole): People who imprison others in dark wells, crannies or mountain caves are pushed into this hell, a dark well engulfed with poisonous fumes and smoke that suffocates them. Paryavartana (returning): A householder who welcomes guests with cruel glances and abuses them is restrained in this hell. Hard-eyed vultures, herons, crows and similar birds gaze on them and suddenly fly and pluck his eyes. Sucimukha (needle-face): An ever-suspicious man is always wary of people trying to grab his wealth. Proud of his money, he sins to gain and to retain it.

Yamadutas stitch thread through his whole body in this hell. Though the Vishnu Purana mentions 28 hells, it gives information only about sinners condemned in 21 hells and does not give details about the punishments. The hells described in the Vishnu Purana , but not in the Bhagavata Purana and the Devi Bhagavata Purana are as follows: Rodha (obstruction): A causer of abortion, a murderer of a cow, a plunderer or one who strangles a man is cast here. Sukara (hog): A murderer of a Brahmin, a stealer of gold or an alcoholic and those all associated with them fall into this hell. Tala (padlock): Murder of a Kshatriya or a Vaishya and adultery with wife of a religious leader leads here. Taptakumbha (hot pots): Incest with sister and murderer of an ambassador results in torment in this hell. Taptaloha (hot iron): A wife-seller, a jailer and one who abandons his followers is tortured here. Mahajwala (great-fire): Incest with daughter or daughter-in-law brings one here.

Lavana (salt): One who vilifies his guru, people superior to them or the Vedas go to this hell. Vimohana (the place of bewildering): A thief or those who despise prescribed observances are tormented here. Krimisha (hell of insects): One who uses magic to harm others is condemned here. Vedhaka (piercing): The maker of arrows is damned to this hell. Adhomukha (head-inverted): He who takes bribes, an astrologer and he who worships improper objects is cast here. Púyaváha (where matter falls): A Brahmin who sells lac , meat, alcohol, salt; he who commits violence and he who eats sweets without sharing falls in this hell. Rudhirándha (wells of blood): Wrestlers or boxers who commit violence for entertainment, fishermen, followers of bastards, arsonists, poisoners, informants, fortune-tellers, traitors, those who have coitus on sacred taboo days and those who live off their wives' prostitution are cast here. Krishna (dark/black): A fraudster, a trespasser and one who causes impotence is cast in this hell.

Vahnijwala (fiery flame): Potters, hunters and shepherds are punished here. Shwabhojana (food of dogs): A religious student who sleeps in the day and one who does not have spiritual knowledge and learns it from children are damned here. Answering Buddhism Jesus and Buddha As Buddhism comes into contact with Christianity, a comparison is often made between Jesus and Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). In fact, the leader of Tibetan Buddhism [7] , the Dalai Lama was recently interviewed by James A. Beverly [8] for Christianity Today, who asked how Jesus could be ï¿½Enlightenedï¿½ and teach falsehood according to Buddhist teaching. I reminded him of his belief that Jesus is "a fully enlightened being" and asked, "If Jesus is fully enlightened, wouldn't he be teaching the truth about himself? Therefore, if he is teaching the truth, then he is the Son of God, and there is a God, and Jesus is the Savior. If he is fully enlightened, he should teach the truth.

If he is not teaching the truth, he is not that enlightened."ï¿½ï¿½..As the Dalai Lama felt the momentum of the question, he laughed more than at any other time in the interview. He obviously understood the argument, borrowed from C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianityï¿½ï¿½ï¿½."This is a very good question," he said. "This is very, very important, very important." Even in Buddha's case, he said, a distinction must always be made between teachings that "always remain valid" and others that "we have the liberty to reject."ï¿½ï¿½.He argued that the Buddha knew people were not always ready for the higher truth because it "wouldn't suit, wouldn't help." Therefore, lesser truths are sometimes taught because of the person's ignorance or condition. This is known in Buddhist dharma as the doctrine of uppayah, or skillful means. The Dalai Lama then applied this to the question about Jesusï¿½ï¿½."Jesus Christ also lived previous lives," he said. "So, you see, he reached a high state, either as a Bodhisattva, or an enlightened person, through Buddhist practice or something like that.

Then, at a certain period, certain era, he appeared as a new master, and then because of circumstances, he taught certain views different from Buddhism, but he also taught the same religious values as I mentioned earlier: Be patient, tolerant, compassionate. This is, you see, the real message in order to become a better human being." He said that there was absolutely no lying involved since Jesus' motivation was to help people. [9] In this interview, the Dalai Lama was forced to either say Jesus was a liar, lord or lunatic. While saying there was ï¿½ï¿½Absolutely no lyingï¿½, the Dalai Lama called Jesus a liar, who taught false hood, according to Buddhism. According to the Dalai Lama, Jesus was enlightened but knowing told lies, Himself being the Son of God and God being personal, both which contradict Buddhist teaching. So either Jesus lied, or was a lunatic. In the last line of the quote, the Dalai Lama basically says the lying was justified because the ï¿½motivation was to help peopleï¿½. Trying to fit Jesus into Buddhist doctrines does not work, because Buddhism and Christianity are not compatible.

Today, many are trying to compare Buddha and Jesus as two similar spiritual beings with two similar messages. As we shall see, this is false. Jesus and Buddha have very little in common. Jesus in commenting on the teaching of Buddha and others who claimed the ï¿½Keys to salvationï¿½ apart from Godï¿½s revelation in scripture said, 7 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 "All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:7-10 Jesus preached exclusive truth; there is only one way for salvation, through Christ alone, He called others who came before him thieves and robbers.

Buddha, taught the way of escape (Salvation) was by following his teachings as revealed in the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold path. With Good works, resulting in good Karma, one might escape into Nirvana. Jesus and Buddha an evaluation When we compare Jesus and Buddha, what we are really asking is, who is the messenger of truth? Though both taught people how to live moral lives, both Jesus and Buddha claimed to know the answers to the questions most important to those alive on earth. ï¿½ Who am I? ï¿½ What happens after we die? ï¿½ Is there a heaven or hell? ï¿½ Is there something I can do, while I am alive, to determine my destiny? The teachings of Buddha and Jesus both address these questions for humanity, but can they both cannot be right. The answers given by Jesus and Buddha both have contradictory claims so they both cannot teachers of ultimate truth. For example, Jesus taught He alone was the way to Heaven, and there is only one life. Buddha taught, salvation is attained through self-effort, after living many lives, you attain nirvana. Both Jesus and Buddha cannot be right.

They may both be wrong, but they cannot both be right, because their claims contradict each other. So how can we know if Buddha or Jesus was right? Is there a way to evaluate, whether Jesus or Buddha has the truth, or do we just have to wait until we die to find out? One place to start is to examine and compare the teaching of Buddhism and Christianity. This ultimately leads us to the history behind each person. What is the basis on their teachings? Did they just appear and say accept me, I have the truth? Is there a basis to their claims? The basis of Jesus Christ The basis of Buddha The Old Testament: Jesus Christ claimed to be the Messiah (Christ), the redeemer of humanity promised at the fall of man. From four hundred to over a thousand-year, before Jesus, God spoke through prophets, who foretold the events surrounding the coming of Messiah [10] . For example, in Micah 5:3, were told he would be born in Bethlehem. 2 Samuel 7:12 tells us he would be a descendent of King David. Daniel 9:24-27, tells us the exact time when Messiah will be killed and what happens after his death.

Isaiah 53, talks about his rejection by his people the Jews, and how his death would pay for the sins of the world. All this and more was revealed in the scriptures before Jesus came, to prove the identity of the Messiah and his work on the cross. The Old Testament identified the Messiah as God himself who would dwell in flesh. (Isaiah 9:6-7) Hinduism: Buddhaï¿½s basis is Hinduism. Most of the doctrines and teachings of Buddha are steeped in Hinduism. The concepts of Karma, Reincarnation, Samsara and Illusion comes from the Vedic (Wisdom) teachings of the Aryan tribes which migrated into India. Buddha, himself claims to be one in a succession of Buddhaï¿½s. According to Buddhism, another Buddha is coming, Maitreya. The concept of incarnations of into the realm of the living is also a Hindu concept. In Hinduism, Vishnu would incarnate himself as an avatar, Buddha is believed to be the 9th incarnation of Vishnu after Ram and Krishna. So in essence, Buddhism is a sect of Hinduism, without the Caste System [11] and some other aspects.

So the question needs to be asked, Is Hinduism inspired? Are the Aryan Vedas inspired? Is there any evidence? Evidence: The evidence for the Jesus and the Bible is substantial. Archeological and Historical Evidence demonstrate the accuracy of the Bible from a historical perspective. Super-natural evidence demonstrates the Bible as having a supernatural source (The God of the Bible). The Bible reveals the person of Jesus Christ before he came. Giving us details which could only be fulfilled by the Jesus of Nazareth. The seventy weeks of Daniel gives the exact month, day and year Jesus would be cut off, 539 years before his birth. The Bible also reveals events in the future, events happening today regarding Israel, Jerusalem and the Jewish people as evidence the God of the Bible is only God, there is no other. Evidence: The evidence of Buddha being a historical figure is not denied by anyone, nor is the fact that he started Buddhism. The question is was his revelation super-natural. Again, we have to understand, Buddha preached a reformed Hinduism. What he taught was not unlike the teachers of Jainism or Hinduism.

His teaching modified some of Hindu doctrines, but in essence Buddhism is Hinduism, without the caste system, and without a focus on Brahman [12] Texts: The text of the Bible both Old and New Testaments are preserved through manuscripts. The oldest existing Hebrew Manuscripts (The Dead Sea Scrolls) prove the integrity of manuscript transmission. The Greek translation of the Old Testament (Septuagint) also affirm the transmission of the Old Testament. The New Testament manuscripts we have are dated as early as 50 years (John Rylands) to150 years from its authorship. Texts: Pali Canon Tripiṭaka (Three Baskets): The Pali Canon is one the earliest existing scripture collections of the Buddhist tradition. These scriptures were recited orally from the time of the Buddha and were put into writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BC. So for 500 years, after Buddha, what he said was not even written down. The other texts of Mahayana and Vajrayana branches of Buddhism are even less reliable then the Pali Canon and number in the thousands. Comparing Jesus and Buddha Buddha/Buddhism Salvation Jesus died for our sins, being crucified on the Cross.

By our faith in Christ we are given the gift of grace by God. (John 3:16-18, Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 3:23-26) Salvation is available to all who accept Jesus (Biblical Jesus) and call on his name for salvation. Buddha according to Buddhist teaching attained Nirvana, exiting into annihilation. The salvation for the Buddhist is to escape into annihilation and end the cycle of reincarnations and suffering. (Samsara). According to orthodox Buddhism, to attain Nirvana you must be a male Buddhist monk. Truth Jesus claims to be ï¿½Truthï¿½. The only way of salvation. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 Buddha taught there is no reality in this physical world, all is an illusion. The way out of this illusion is to follow the Buddhaï¿½s 4 Noble Truths and the 8 fold path. This will then take the karmic elements toward the point of annihilation.

Person Every person is a unique individual soul, who will live for eternity, with memory of their life on earth. Each person lives one life, after our life on earth is judgment. (Hebrews 9:27, Luke 16:20-31,) The Lord God created the soul of the person at conception. (Zechariah 12:1) Each person now living has lived past lives; In Buddhism there is no soul, only Karmic elements that are preserved from reincarnation to reincarnation. Death After death, the soul of the individual goes to Heaven or Hell. There is only one life for each person. In this life we need to make our decision where we will spend eternity. According to the Bible there are no second chances after death. According to Buddhism if a human does not obtain nirvana or enlightenment, as it is known, the person cannot escape the cycle of death and rebirth and are inevitably be reborn into the 6 possible states beyond this our present life, these being in order from the highest to lowest; 1. Heaven 2. Human life, 3. Asura 4. Hungry Ghost 5. Animals 6.

Hell (See attached Table) God There is one God who created the heavens and the earth, who has revealed Himself in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was the incarnation of God, who came to die for our sins on the cross. Though most Western Buddhist deny the existence of God in Buddhism, this is not so clear cut. As Buddha himself in most ways held Hindu beliefs. According to the Pali Canon, Brahma the creator-god of Hinduism appeared to Buddha after his enlightenment. In some parts of the world Buddha or his disciples are worshipped as gods. Pure Land Buddhism is example where Buddha is worshipped as god and savior. In Buddhismï¿½there are many godsï¿½because Buddhism for the most part is polytheistic Hinduism without and emphasis on Brahman. Heaven Heaven as understood by most is the presence of God. When the saved Christian dies, he enters Heaven to be with Christ. (John 14:1-6, Phil. 1:23) After death, there are according to some Buddhist traditions up to 37 levels of heaven. And you rest there until your karma runs out.

Hell According to Jesus, Hell is a real place where un-saved souls go after death. (Luke 16:20-31). Naraka or Neraka, in Buddhism and Hinduism, is the underworld and Hell. In Hinduism, there are many hells, and Yama, Lord of Justice, sends human beings after death for appropriate punishment. Such punishment can be in boiling oil, etc. However, Naraka in Hinduism is not equivalent to Hell in Christian ideology. Naraka is only a purgatory where the soul gets purified of sin by sufferings. Morality God is objective truth, God established what is right and wrong. When we violate Godï¿½s will this is known as sin. In Christianity there is an objective right and wrong. (Exodus 20:1-17) Buddhism has no objective right or wrong according to Buddhist. They have right or wrong thinking and actions, which lead to good or bad karma. Buddhism and Its relationship to Hinduism and Jainism Same Yogi: from the Sanskrit root yuj ("to yoke") meaning to yoke with the divine.

Buddha, became a Yogi, after he left the palace and according to Jainism was under the influence of Jain Yogis. Demonstrating Buddhism is a Hindu sect. Hinduism see Buddha as a Hindu Yogi. Jainism founder was a Hindu Yogi, showing Jainism like Buddhism is actually Hinduism. Buddhist scriptures record philosophical dialogues between the wandering seeker Buddha and Udaka Ramaputta, who appears to have been a Jain teacher (having taught a doctrine of eight types of karma). Samsara: , "to flow together," to go or pass through states, to wander This term is used in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism to describe the cycle of birth and rebirth, prior to Nirvana. Hinduism is the basis of this term. Both Buddhism and Jainism demonstrate their total dependence on Hindu teachings. Jainism also has this doctrine. Karma: Sanskrit: कर्म from the root kri, "to do", meaning deed) This a purely Hindu doctrine which Buddha based his understanding of attaining the right amount of ï¿½Goodï¿½ Karma. In Buddhism, only intentional actions are karmic "acts of will".

The 'Law of Karma' refers to "cause and effect", Palī kamma in Indian philosophy, the influence of an individual's past actions on his future lives, or reincarnations. The doctrine of karma reflects the Hindu conviction that this life is but one in a chain of lives (saṃsāra) This is also a foundational doctrine of Jainism. Reincarnation: Buddhism there is no reincarnation of the soul, just the Karmic elements. Tibetan Buddhists do believe that a new-born child may be the reincarnation of someone departed, like the Dalai Lama. The idea that the soul reincarnates is intricately linked to karma, whose first explication was also seen in the Hindu books of the Upanishads. The idea is that individual souls, jiva-atmas pass from one plane of existence and carry with them samskaras (impressions) from former states of being. In Jainism, gods reincarnate after they die. A Jainist, who accumulates enough good karma, may become a god; but, this is generally seen as undesirable since gods eventually die and one might then come back as a lesser being.

Maya: Sanskrit: ma: not, ya: this, translated illusion. The view world we live in is an illusion. Buddha, borrowed this concept from Hinduism, and Jainism. is the illusion of a limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled, a veiling of the true, unitary Self, also known as Brahman. Same Relationship between avidya, or ignorance, of one's true self, karma and reincarnation. And the state of illusion, Maya. The Same as Hinduism, except reincarnation involves only the Karmic elements and only transfers to humans and not animals. In Hinduism, it is avidya, or ignorance, of one's true self, that leads to ego-consciousness of the body and the phenomenal world. This grounds one in desire and the perpetual chain of karma and reincarnation. The state of illusion is known as Maya. Same The Creator God Though Buddhist claim Buddhism is an atheistic religion that does not have a creator-god, their scripture contradicts this claim. In fact after his enlightenment, two Hindu gods appeared to Buddha.

One of these gods was Brahma Sahampati, who is the creator-god, according to the Pali Canon. Samyutta Nikaya VI.1 The Hindus have a pantheon of gods and goddess. The main god is Brahman, the supreme god. The senior god of the hindu trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma was the creator god who appeared to Buddha, according to Buddhist scripture. The founder of Jainism renounced Brahman. But later his disciples worshipped him as god. 6 Realms of Buddhist Rebirth In the Buddhist viewpoint, there are 6 different realms we can be reborn into. And beings in each of these states has different degrees of happiness and suffering. These realms are namely: The Upper Realms Hell Beings These Realms represents 6 different states of existence. Though some cannot be readily seen, they can be experienced. These 6 realms also represent 6 different states of mind a person might continually go through. Gods It is important to note that in Buddhism, gods are not beings that control or intervene in our daily lives. Rather, they are beings who experience a great deal of happiness as life goes on smoothly for a long time with absence of general suffering.

However, this state is only temporal. We all, at one time or other, have had such an experience. When "everything" goes our way, as we wish, we are experiencing a state very similar to the gods. Demi-Gods (Asuras) These are beings who are constantly in an aggressive or competitive state of mind. They have great wealth, yet they are always reaching out, striving for more. In our modern world many of us are not unlike them. We live a generally high standard of life. Yet, we are constantly seeking and reaching out for more endlessly. Human Beings In this state we experience a mix of happiness and suffering. It is also in this state that we are able to attain Buddhahood. Thus a Buddhist would strive not to be born as a god but as a human, as it is as a human that we are most able to best practice the Dharma. Animals The most powerful force acting on animals is ignorance. They are guided mainly by instincts where the preoccupying thoughts are food, sex and material comfort. Many of us have had experiences when craving for food or sex is so strong that we do things that we might regret later.

A person who is too preoccupied by these thoughts is thus somewhat bestial or animal in nature. Hungry Ghosts In the ghost realm, beings are in a state of neurotic desire, and not having them fulfilled. They are always filled with great hunger or thirst. We have often seen people in less fortunate nations in great hunger due to drought or war. Their living is not unlike beings in the ghost realm. Closer to home, many people experience neurotic craving for relationships and cause great pain to both parties. Hell Beings These beings, of all the realms, are the ones suffering from the most pain. These beings suffer from constant acute physical and mental pain. These descriptions fit the details of the ways in which many prisoners-of-war have been tortured. [1] Nirvana mean ï¿½Blown Outï¿½ where the flame is blown out and the person exits. [2] This is the literal teaching of Buddha and Buddhism, the more liberal schools have changed this. [3] Samsara is the cycle of birth in rebirth in reincarnation of karmic elements of the person.

[4] Tissa Weerasingha, ï¿½Karma and Christ: Opening Our Eyes to the Buddhist World,ï¿½ International Journal of Frontier Missions 10:3 (July 1993):103

Question: In many Asian/Eastern beliefs 'Naraka' is what?
Answer: Hell