Contributed by Nalini Balbir
The lower world is the world of suffering. The lower one lives, the more one suffers. Depictions of life there and the varieties of tortures one can suffer there are among artists’ favourite topics, producing very lively paintings.
There are seven hells in the lower world, with several formed of layers of hells. The following table presents information about the hells. This table is based on Śvetāmbara sources. Details of the Digambara tradition can be found in Jainendra Siddhānta-kośa. A comprehensive scholarly survey of both sects' sources is Kirfel 1920.
Number |
Name |
Meaning |
Depth – yojanas |
Number of layers |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Ratna-prabhā |
jewels |
180,000 |
|
2 |
Śarkara-prabhā |
gravel |
132,000 |
|
3 |
Vālukā-prabhā |
sand |
128,000 |
9 |
4 |
Paṅka-prabhā |
mud |
120,000 |
7 |
5 |
Dhūma-prabhā |
smoke |
118,000 |
5 |
6 |
Tama[ḥ]-prabhā |
darkness |
116,000 |
3 |
7 |
Tamatama[ḥ]-prabhā |
extreme darkness |
108,000 |
1 |
The lower a hell is, the wider its base is. But the thickness of the hells decreases the lower it is. For example the seventh hell has one layer whereas the third hell has nine layers. These characteristics can be seen in the cosmic man.
The first hell from the top is where the ten groups of beings live that comprise the category Bhavana-pati or Bhavana-vāsin – ‘Residents of Dwellings’. They are princes – kumāras – and form the lowest group of deities that can be found in the triple world.
Number |
Names of princes |
Meaning |
Emblem |
Names of kings – indras |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Asura-kumāra |
fiendish youths |
head-jewel |
Camara and Bali |
2 |
Nāga-kumāra |
serpentine youths |
snakehood |
Dharaṇa and Bhūtānanda |
3 |
Vidyut-kumāra |
lightning youths |
thunderbolt |
Hari and Harisaha |
4 |
Suparṇa-kumāra |
vulpine youths |
garuḍa |
Veṇudeva and Veṇudārin |
5 |
Agni-kumāra |
fiery youths |
jar of plenty |
Agniśikha and Agnimāṇava |
6 |
Vāyu-kumāra |
stormy youths |
horse |
Velamba and Prabhañjana |
7 |
Stanita-kumāra |
thundering youths |
symbol of prosperity – vardhamāna |
Sughoṣa and Mahāghoṣa |
8 |
Udadhi-kumāra |
oceanic youths |
dolphin – makara |
Jalakānta and Jalaprabha |
9 |
Dvīpa-kumāra |
island youths |
lion |
Pūrṇa and Avaśiṣṭa |
10 |
Dik-kumāra |
youths ruling the cardinal points |
elephant |
Amita and Amitavāhana |
The three highest hells are where the semi-divine beings live, who are known as the Paramādharmika – ‘Extremely Unjust’.
All these beings live in palaces – vimānas – that are round, triangular or square. They are grouped around a circular palace where their respective kings live.
Rebirth in the hells results from violent behaviour and extreme possessiveness.
The types of infernal beings are born in different hells, as shown in the following table, which is based on page 76 of Jaini in Granoff 2009. The hells are numbered according to how deep they are, with number one at the highest level.
Level of hell |
Type of animal born there |
---|---|
1 |
only five-sensed animals without the faculty of mind |
2 |
reptiles with legs |
3 |
birds |
4 |
land animals, such as lions |
5 |
legless reptiles |
6 |
female humans |
7 |
male humans and aquatic animals, such as fish, sharks and crocodiles |
If they do not gain enough good karma to be reborn in a higher world, they are born in a lower hell in their next birth.
Apart from those born in the top hell, infernal beings are reborn with five senses and the faculty of mind. They have a sort of negative capacity of knowledge – vibhaṅga – through which they can remember their earlier enemies and carry on holding feelings of hostility. They can change their appearance and form to frighten other beings.
Above the first hell live the semi-divine beings called Vyantaras. There are eight categories of Vyantara. They are the second class of gods and are recognisable by their different emblems. Each of the eight groups is governed by two kings – indras – with full courts and retinues.
The following table gives key details of the Vyantara deities. The table is based on Śvetāmbara sources. Details of the Digambara tradition can be found in Jainendra Siddhānta-kośa. A comprehensive scholarly survey of both sects' sources is Kirfel 1920.
Type |
Name |
Meaning |
Emblem |
Names of the two kings |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Piśāca |
goblins |
kadamba tree |
Kāla and Mahākāla |
2 |
Bhūta |
devils |
sulasa tree |
Surūpa and Apratirūpa |
3 |
Yakṣa |
treasure keeper |
banyan tree |
Pūrṇabhadra and Maṇibhadra |
4 |
Rākṣasa |
demons |
khaṭvānga tree |
Bhīma and Mahābhīma |
5 |
Kinnara |
deformed humans |
aśoka tree |
Kinnara and Kimpuruṣa |
6 |
Kiṃpuruṣa |
deformed persons |
campaka tree |
Satpuruṣa and Mahāpuruṣa |
7 |
Mahoraga |
great serpents |
nāgadru tree |
Atikāya and Mahākāya |
8 |
Gandharva |
celestial musicians |
tumburu tree |
Gītarati and Gītayaśas |
British Library. Or. 2137 ms. B. Śrīcandra
With commentary by Dharmameru. British Library. Or. 13456. Śrīcandra. 1812
With commentary by Dharmameru. British Library. Or. 13456. Śrīcandra. 1812
British Library. Or. 2116 ms. C. Śrīcandra. Perhaps 16th century