InIndian religions,Patala (Sanskrit: पाताल,IAST: pātāla, lit.that which is below the feet), denotes the subterranean realms of the universe – which are located under the earthly dimension.[1][2][3] Patala is often translated asunderworld or netherworld. Patala is described as more beautiful thanSvarga (subtle dimensions, loosely translated as heaven). Patala is described as filled with splendid jewels, beautiful groves and lakes.
InVajrayana Buddhism, caves inhabited byasuras are entrances to Patala; these asuras, particularly female asuras, are often "tamed" (converted toBuddhism) asdharmapala ordakinis by famous Buddhist figures such asPadmasambhava.[4]
InHindu cosmology, the universe is divided into the three worlds:Svarga,Bhumi or Martya (earth/mortal plane) and Patala (gross dimensions, theunderworld).[5] Patala is composed of seven realms/dimensions orlokas,[6][7] the seventh and lowest of them is also called Patala orNaga-loka, the region of the Nagas. TheDanavas (children ofDanu),Daityas (children ofDiti),Rakshas and the snake-peopleNagas (serpent-human formed sons ofKadru), live in the realms of Patala.[1]
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TheVishnu Purana tells of a visit by the divine wandering sageNarada to Patala. Narada describes Patala as more beautiful than Svarga. Patala is described as filled with splendid jewels, beautiful groves and lakes and lovely asura maidens. Sweet fragrance is in the air and is fused with sweet music. The soil here is white, black, purple, sandy, yellow, stony and also of gold.[1][8]
TheBhagavata Purana calls the seven lower regionsbila-svargas ("subterranean heavens") and they are regarded as planets or planetary systems below the earth. These regions are described as being more opulent than the upper heavenly regions of the universe. The life here is of pleasure, wealth and luxury, with no distress. The asura architectMaya has constructed palaces, temples, houses, yards and hotels for foreigners, with jewels. The natural beauty of Patala is said to surpass that of Svarga. There is no sunlight in the lower realms, but the darkness is dissipated by the shining of the jewels that the residents of Patala wear. There is no old age, no sweat, no disease in Patala.[7]
TheVishnu Purana,[1] states the seven realms of Patala, which are located one above the other, are seventy thousandyojanas (a unit of measurement) below the Earth's surface. Each of them extends ten thousandYojanas. InVishnu Purana, they are named as from the highest to the lowest as: Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Garbhastimat, Mahatala, Sutala and Patala. In theBhagavata Purana and thePadma Purana, they are called Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. TheShiva Purana, replaces Mahatala with Tala. TheVayu Purana calls them Rasatala, Sutala, Vitala, Gabhastala, Mahatala, Sritala and Patala.[1] The seven Patalas as well as the earth above them is supported on the head of thetamasic (dark) form ofVishnu, the thousand-headed nāgaShesha.[1][8] Sometimes,Shesha is described as residing in the lowest region of Patala instead of below it.[5] Below the regions of Patala liesNaraka, the Hindu Hell – the realm of death where sinners are punished.[1]
Different realms of Patala are ruled by different asura and Nagas; usually with the Nagas headed byVasuki assigned to the lowest realm.[1]Vayu Purana records each realm of Patala has cities in it. The first region has the cities of the daitya Namuchi and NagaKaliya; in the secondHayagriva and NagaTakshaka; in the third, those ofPrahlada and Hemaka; in the fourth ofKalanemi and Vainateya; in the fifth ofHiranyaksha andKirmira and in the sixth, ofPuloman and Vasuki.Bali rules as the sovereign king of Patala.[1]
TheBhagavata Purana presents a detailed description of the seven lower realms.[8] A similar description of the seven Patalas also appears in theDevi-Bhagavata Purana.[9][8]
Atala is ruled by Bala – a son of Maya – who possesses mystical powers. By one yawn, Bala created three types of women –svairiṇīs ("self-willed"), who like to marry men from their own group;kāmiṇīs ("lustful"), who marry men from any group, and thepunshchalīs ("those who wholly give themselves up"), who keep changing their partners. When a man enters Atala, these women enchant him and serve him an intoxicatingcannabis drink that induces sexual energy in the man. Then, these women enjoy sexual play with the traveller, who feels to be stronger than ten thousand elephants and forgets impending death.[9][8]
Vitala is ruled by the god Hara-Bhava (possibly a form of Shiva), who dwells with attendantganas including ghosts and goblins as the master of gold mines along with his consortBhavani, as the progenitor of living beings and their sexual fluids flow as river Hataki here. When fire – fanned by wind – drinks from this river, it spits the water out as a type of gold called Hataka. The residents of this realm are adorned with gold from this region.[9][8]
Sutala constructed byVishvakarma, is the kingdom of the pious asura kingBali. The dwarfavatar ofVishnu,Vamana, requested three paces of land, acquired the three worlds in his three paces, and sent Bali – who had conquered thethree worlds – to Sutala, but when Bali surrendered to Vishnu and gave him all of his belongings, Vishnu made him richer thanIndra, thedeva-king of heaven. Highly impressed by the Bali's devotion, Vishnu gave him a boon that he himself would perpetually stand as the watchman to Bali's palace. Bali still prays to Vishnu in this realm.[9][8]
Talātala is the realm of the asura-architectMaya, who is well-versed in sorcery. Shiva, asTripurantaka, destroyed thethree cities of Maya, but was later pleased with Maya and gave him this realm and promised to protect him.[9][8]
Mahātala is the abode of many-hooded Nagas (serpents) – the sons ofKadru, headed by theKrodhavasha (Irascible) band of Kuhaka, Takshaka, Kaliya and Sushena. They live here with their families in peace but always fearGaruda.[9][8]
Rasātala at the sole of the feet of the universe form of Vishnu is the home of theAsuras – Danavas and Daityas, who are mighty but cruel. They are the eternal foes ofDevas (the gods). They live in holes like serpents.[9][8]
Patala orNagaloka is the lowest realm and the region of the Nagas, ruled byVasuki (the snake that hangs around Shiva's neck). Here live several Nagas with many hoods. Each of their hoods is decorated by a jewel, a source of light of which illuminates this realm.[9][8]
In early Vajrayana, Patala (Tibetan: sa 'og ས་འོག་ "the Underground") is understood as a grouping of underground paradises inhabited by nāgas and asuras above the Naraka realm.[10] While the story of the establishment of Patala as an asura realm is attributed to the defeat of the asuras onMount Meru, in Buddhist scriptures this is due to their defeat byŚakra using amantra ofMañjuśrī instead of by their defeat by Vishnu; this is the explanation given for the appearance of Śakra wielding the banner of Mañjuśrī in iconic imagery.[11]
Patala is associated with theKriyātantras, which are associated with thekīla, the phenomenon of thetertön andterma and water magic[4] and with the attainment ofvidyādhara (Chinese:仙, 仚;pinyin:xiān) status.[12] These practices have been largely ignored after the early period ofTibetan Buddhism andTangmi but originally were popular.[4]
The importance of Patala to esoteric Buddhism lay in its role as the source ofalchemy and magical science orvidyā,immortality and enjoyment, particularly the opportunity for the (male) vidyādhara to have intercourse with female non-humans.[13] It was also viewed as a source of flowing waters.[14]
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