Let’s understand the connection between karma and the concept of various hells. The jivas or souls go through different levels of torture and punishment based on the sins committed. The jivas get rebirth according to their karmas.
Place of suffering called Tamisra or darkness and Andhatamisra blinding darkness is designated for people laying hands on another’s wealth, wife or children. He is not given any food or drink and is beaten with clubs. The jivas become weary and swoon.
They suffer, lose their senses and experience excessive pain.
Hell called Raurava is for jivas who grossly identify themselves with their physical body. They are subject to poisonous worms called rurus. Maharaurava is for men who indulge in passions are eaten by predatory animals.
Flesh-eating men are sent Kumbhipaka and boiled in hot oil.
Jivas who insult brahmins and spiritual men fall into Kalasutra. They burn in heat by fire and sun and go through untold misery.
Jivas who disrespect the Vedic dharma go to Asipatravana. They are made to run helter-skelter through sharp daggers and have their bodies torn apart in agony.
The concept of Various Hells continues
Kings who cause untold misery to their subjects or brahmins go to Sukhara Mukha. They are crushed like sugar cane and made to shriek in distress.
Andhakupa is for men in high positions who inflict pain on the poor and oppressed. Beasts and serpents torment them.
Avichimat is for jivas who utter falsehood. They are in a world of delusion and hurled from heights over and over again.
Dandasuka is for jivas who are cruel and terrify people with authority. They are imprisoned with snakes.
Jivas who are miserly are sent to Suchimukha, a waterless hell filled with darkness and filth.
Brahmins who do not respect or follow their dharma are punished considerably.
There are other examples of hell where jivas fall into rivers of waste pus, urine, flesh, fat and mucus.
Literally, for every misconduct and wrong behaviour, there is a hell prescribed. This can also be one consciousness reflecting guilt, anger or regret.
Leading a life of piousness and focused on virtues should be the aim of man. A state of Nivritti or mental harmony is a state of Moksha.
The significance of ancestral worship plays a vital role to ease the journey of the jivas.
