Vedic universe: Understanding the subterranean heavens
The mysterious subterranean abodes, where the demons live in great opulence.
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The Śrimād Bhagavatatam describes that below the surface of Bhū-mandala lie seven planetary systems, described as the abodes of the asuras. Just as our planet is connected to the higher abodes through subtle passages in the Himalayas, we are connected to these lower abodes through caves and subterranean passages. There are many stories in the folklore of different cultures of men going through these passages and finding very opulent places with beautiful women, etc. Based on these old folk stories, many believe these subterranean heavens exist under the surface of our planet, but that’s not exactly true. These planetary systems exist under the plane of Bhū-mandala, and not literally inside our planet. They are just connected to our planet through these subtle subterranean passages.
Just as Svargaloka is a disk of the same diameter as Bhū-mandala itself, each of these abodes is again of the same diameter, positioned one below the other. This explanation suggests that they are also planetary systems composed of thousands of planets each.
Different from the abodes of human beings and demigods, however, these are subterranean abodes, where inhabitants have no access to the light of the sun. Their abodes are thus very opulent and materially beautiful but artificially illuminated.
Because they can’t see the sun, they don’t notice the passage of the days and nights. They live in a continuous night, both literal and figurative, not only living under artificial lights but also completely blind to self-realization. The kāla-cakra continues to rotate, diminishing their life expectancy, but they fail to notice it, being continuously involved in sense gratification.
In the Gītā, Kṛṣṇa mentions, “Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, I perpetually cast into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life. Attaining repeated birth amongst the species of demoniac life, O son of Kuntī, such persons can never approach Me. Gradually they sink down to the most abominable type of existence.”
These two verses describe precisely the existence in the lower planetary systems. Atheists who are somehow pious usually have the opportunity of taking birth there and enjoying sense gratification in the company of other atheists. Because they want to turn their back to Him, Kṛṣṇa organizes a situation in which they can enjoy without being disturbed.
These abodes are described in this way:
“My dear King, beneath this earth are seven other planets, known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla. I have already explained the situation of the planetary systems of earth. The width and length of the seven lower planetary systems are calculated to be exactly the same as those of earth. In these seven planetary systems, which are also known as the subterranean heavens [bila-svarga], there are very beautiful houses, gardens and places of sense enjoyment, which are even more opulent than those in the higher planets because the demons have a very high standard of sensual pleasure, wealth and influence. Most of the residents of these planets, who are known as Daityas, Dānavas and Nāgas, live as householders. Their wives, children, friends and society are all fully engaged in illusory material happiness. The sense enjoyment of the demigods is sometimes disturbed, but the residents of these planets enjoy life without disturbances. Thus they are understood to be very attached to illusory happiness.” (SB 5.24.7-8)
The Bhāgavatam describes that even the demigods are sometimes disturbed in their sense enjoyment by the attacks of the demons and other occurrences, and this helps them to return to their proper consciousness and take shelter of the Lord. The demons, however, are never disturbed—there is no one to attack them. In this way, they are free to enjoy until their pious merits are completely exhausted. After that, they usually go to the lower species of life and have to go through the evolutionary cycle. After millions of births, they eventually take birth as human beings in Kali-yuga, and because of their previous habits, usually engage again in sinful activities and thus glide back down into the lower heavens or animal life. Kṛṣṇa uses the word “ajasram” (perpetually, forever), giving the idea of a practically eternal cycle. In this way, such atheists remain in darkness for an incalculably long time. Since they want to enjoy without being disturbed by thoughts of a God, Kṛṣṇa gives them the opportunity of doing so.
In his purport, Prabhupāda brings our attention to our role in this cosmic system: We are not supposed just to sit and wait, observing as such souls remain perpetually in darkness. Devotees are the way out of this system. If an atheist meets with devotees in the rare opportunity of taking a human birth on our planet and can be, somehow or other, induced to perform any devotional act, smallest as it may be, he can start his devotional path and be eventually saved. For us, it may appear as a small act, such as giving someone a book, a sweet ball, or inducing one to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and so on, but for them, it can be the moment that turns their existence.
A personality that can be mentioned in the context of these subterranean heavens is Maya Dānava, the great architect of the demons. He builds many opulent cities in the lower planetary systems. All these cities contain gardens, parks, roads, and so on, as well as different types of birds and other animals. Demons travel from one city to another and stay in specially constructed hotels and guest houses. Apart from demons, many nāgas (celestial serpents) live in these cities, and the mystical gems on their heads emit light that illuminates them, replacing the light of the sun. It’s also described that their cities contain temples, but these are not temples of Viṣnu. Demons usually worship Lord Śiva or Durgā.
In his purport to text 5.24.14, Prabhupāda connects these lower heavens with the shortcomings of a materialistic civilization. That’s something important to reflect upon:
“This is the defect of material existence. Everything in the subterranean heavens is very nicely arranged. There are well situated residential quarters, there is a pleasing atmosphere, and there are no bodily inconveniences or mental anxieties, but nevertheless those who live there have to take another birth according to karma. Persons whose minds are dull cannot understand this defect of a materialistic civilization aiming at material comforts. One may make his living conditions very pleasing for the senses, but despite all favorable conditions, one must in due course of time meet death. The members of a demoniac civilization endeavor to make their living conditions very comfortable, but they cannot check death. The influence of the Sudarśana cakra will not allow their so-called material happiness to endure.”
Modern civilization is based on the same principles as the lifestyle of the asuras. We can see that most people in the cities imitate even the patterns of being more active during the night. Modern cities are thus replicas of the cities of the demons in the lower planets, with the same basic lifestyle. Trying to practice devotional service and develop the mode of goodness in such environments is surely challenging. Prabhupāda envisioned an alternative, based on small communities, where devotees could live in a more natural setting and practice spiritual life while keeping contact with the land and cows, two factors that strongly push us in the direction of the mode of goodness. Technically, one can practice devotional service in any circumstance, but as long as we are not situated on a perfect platform, the environment we live in surely plays an important role.
For someone trying to develop love of Godhead, living in a materialistic city, like the demons in the lower planets, may not be the most favorable environment.
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