Namaste
I am slowly developing a website that will become "The Wonders of India Website". Different subject matters of wonder and adventure are the theme. One subject matter I am just working on now is the Underworlds, and perhaps some members have some insights of this matter.
It is said at the end of the previous age before Kali Yug, a demon stole all the Vedas and took them down to the place called Rasatala. However Hayagriva went to Rasatala, and finding the Vedas which He then took them to Lord Brahma. We know Rasatala exists “under us”, because in the Ramayana we find that Ravana descended to Rasatala and subjected Vasuki who is a Deva of Water, and there met Nagas as well. However, the 14 Lokas are described as including Rasatala and which rests above the lowest Loka and below Earth, but it is not the lowest realm.
Or is that the order of the Underworld? Versions vary.
There are 7 Heavens (Lokas) above, and 7 Underworlds (Lokas) below. Oddly, the order of the 7 Underworlds and their names vary from scripture to scripture. Others say the order doesn’t matter as much as one can enter a specific Underworld without ever having to cross through the other, that “under” is relative.
This is the same Rasatala where the Rakshasa nomadics fled after being chased away by Vishnu. And it is said the remaining Rakshasa foot soldiers of Ravana fled to refuge in Rasatala after the demise or Ravana and so that is why we do not see Rakshasas today, they made an exodus back to Rasatala.
In the Ramayana, there is a scene where Ram shows His ability with the bow and arrow to Sugriva by shooting an arrow down into Rasatala and then the arrow returned by itself to Ram. It is said, where the arrow of Ram breaks the Earth, that spot and all that is touched by it is blessed.
So where is this Rasatala? We believe it is associated with water due to the encounter of Ravana with Vasuki. But that is an assumption. We know it is “down” in direction. But that is an assumption, and “down” is relative to where you are standing. We know the Rakshasa peons are today refugees in Rasatala (if they are still alive and had offspring) because the Uttara Khanda of the Ramayana states this is so - or does it? There are many Ramayanas, so may account for things, others make no mention, and we wonder, where are the Rakshasas today?
So one would think perhaps Rasatala is a horrible hell. Hell is often thought of as being “down” there.
However, is it horrible? Perhaps not. The reason is, we also know that before Rama came, before Ravana and the Rakshasas in Lanka, the Lord Vamana (the dwarf) defeated Lord Bali when Bali consented to give the guest Vamana whatever land that could be stride in three paces. It was these Three Steps that were to be the defeat of Bali, for upon the third step with Bali bowed in obeisance to Vamana, Vamana having no footstep to place His third step after already stepping on the Earth and then the Sky, Bali offered his head upon which Vamana stepped on Bali’s head and pushed him down to the Underworld.
And so the Lord Vamana was so pleased with Bali’s devotion that He gave him the boon to reside there as the King of the Underworld and given the title Maha (great) Bali (Mahavali), and ordered Visvakarma to build a majestic heavenly city for Bali, a city which was to match the heavenly city of Indra who was Vamana’s older brother.
This is the same Visvakarma who built the majestic golden city of Lanka that was ruled initially by Kubera and then later by Kubera’s step-brother Ravana.
Accounts are made that Bali is allowed to visit Earth once a year and then returns, this implies that the Underworld is now his Home. However, Bali is also accounted to reappear again with a new name in various adventures to come, to be able to rule the World again, and so on. In one account, Bali is given a birth as the grandson of Prahlada, who was the famed devotee child of the asura Hiranyakashipu (of golden hair) who was defeated by Narasingha or Man-Lion incarnation. Previously, accounts say Hiranyakashipu was a Gatekeeper to Vishnu’s heaven who fell to Earth as a result of, among other things, a curse. Bali himself is said to also now be given the title as the Gatekeeper to the Underworld.
Some account that the Underworld was Patala (below Rasatala), yet others account it was Rasatala. However, Patala is also used to describe all 7 Lokas or seven lower regions of the 14 Lokas. The very lowest of them is the land of the Nagas.
The Sage Narada described Patala as full of gems, gold and intriguing maiden beings (which can be dangerous). Certainly the gems and gold would be of interest to the Rakshasas, since that is why they also had interest in Lanka where many sapphires are found.
So actually, perhaps Rasatala isn’t such a bad place to live after all.
Now Sita Devi also was taken into the Earth after the foolish citizens of Ram Raj did not believe her chastity after being held captive by Ravana. Humans never stop their rumors and back-biting and gossip. Such is our ways. In some accounts of Ramayana, as She entered the Earth then She went also into Rasatala i.e. a lower underworld.
So now think about this. If indeed the Rakshasas fled to Rasatala, and later Sita Devi also went to Rasatala, then wouldn’t She encounter the Rakshasas?
Unless of course the Rakshasas are no longer there. You see, there are many, many mysteries to the Underworld. I suspect the Rakshasas are indeed there. And if Sita went there, there is a consideration. And that would be, though the Rakshasas were demonic and abused Sita while She was held captive, they didn’t kill her. In fact, in one way they were quite good prison guards as far as Rakshasas are concerned. And in fact, many Rakshasas came to consider Her their Queen of sorts, a “consort” of Ravana. Thus when Sita left the world, and while She entered into the embrace of Earth, perhaps She did go to the Underworld. Perhaps She encountered the Rakshasas there, and perhaps King Bali. And while the Underworld would certainly not be my choice of destinations, perhaps the Underworld isn’t so bad. And we can see, one can return from there. Many do, as said King Bali returns once a year.
I would not be surprised if Sita would be practically treated as a Queen by the Rakshasas who were refugees there. At least, that is a possibility? And when Bali returns once a year, does He ever bring something with him to Earth? Would He ever bring something that was held in the hand of Sita?
So, esteemed members of the forum, where do you think Rasatala is? What of the Underworld? Siddhars go there and come back.
As is my saying and the theme of the website I am working on, "There are wonders in India" (if you choose to look) and "Adventures await the brave".
Om Namah Sivaya
I am slowly developing a website that will become "The Wonders of India Website". Different subject matters of wonder and adventure are the theme. One subject matter I am just working on now is the Underworlds, and perhaps some members have some insights of this matter.
It is said at the end of the previous age before Kali Yug, a demon stole all the Vedas and took them down to the place called Rasatala. However Hayagriva went to Rasatala, and finding the Vedas which He then took them to Lord Brahma. We know Rasatala exists “under us”, because in the Ramayana we find that Ravana descended to Rasatala and subjected Vasuki who is a Deva of Water, and there met Nagas as well. However, the 14 Lokas are described as including Rasatala and which rests above the lowest Loka and below Earth, but it is not the lowest realm.
Or is that the order of the Underworld? Versions vary.
There are 7 Heavens (Lokas) above, and 7 Underworlds (Lokas) below. Oddly, the order of the 7 Underworlds and their names vary from scripture to scripture. Others say the order doesn’t matter as much as one can enter a specific Underworld without ever having to cross through the other, that “under” is relative.
This is the same Rasatala where the Rakshasa nomadics fled after being chased away by Vishnu. And it is said the remaining Rakshasa foot soldiers of Ravana fled to refuge in Rasatala after the demise or Ravana and so that is why we do not see Rakshasas today, they made an exodus back to Rasatala.
In the Ramayana, there is a scene where Ram shows His ability with the bow and arrow to Sugriva by shooting an arrow down into Rasatala and then the arrow returned by itself to Ram. It is said, where the arrow of Ram breaks the Earth, that spot and all that is touched by it is blessed.
So where is this Rasatala? We believe it is associated with water due to the encounter of Ravana with Vasuki. But that is an assumption. We know it is “down” in direction. But that is an assumption, and “down” is relative to where you are standing. We know the Rakshasa peons are today refugees in Rasatala (if they are still alive and had offspring) because the Uttara Khanda of the Ramayana states this is so - or does it? There are many Ramayanas, so may account for things, others make no mention, and we wonder, where are the Rakshasas today?
So one would think perhaps Rasatala is a horrible hell. Hell is often thought of as being “down” there.
However, is it horrible? Perhaps not. The reason is, we also know that before Rama came, before Ravana and the Rakshasas in Lanka, the Lord Vamana (the dwarf) defeated Lord Bali when Bali consented to give the guest Vamana whatever land that could be stride in three paces. It was these Three Steps that were to be the defeat of Bali, for upon the third step with Bali bowed in obeisance to Vamana, Vamana having no footstep to place His third step after already stepping on the Earth and then the Sky, Bali offered his head upon which Vamana stepped on Bali’s head and pushed him down to the Underworld.
And so the Lord Vamana was so pleased with Bali’s devotion that He gave him the boon to reside there as the King of the Underworld and given the title Maha (great) Bali (Mahavali), and ordered Visvakarma to build a majestic heavenly city for Bali, a city which was to match the heavenly city of Indra who was Vamana’s older brother.
This is the same Visvakarma who built the majestic golden city of Lanka that was ruled initially by Kubera and then later by Kubera’s step-brother Ravana.
Accounts are made that Bali is allowed to visit Earth once a year and then returns, this implies that the Underworld is now his Home. However, Bali is also accounted to reappear again with a new name in various adventures to come, to be able to rule the World again, and so on. In one account, Bali is given a birth as the grandson of Prahlada, who was the famed devotee child of the asura Hiranyakashipu (of golden hair) who was defeated by Narasingha or Man-Lion incarnation. Previously, accounts say Hiranyakashipu was a Gatekeeper to Vishnu’s heaven who fell to Earth as a result of, among other things, a curse. Bali himself is said to also now be given the title as the Gatekeeper to the Underworld.
Some account that the Underworld was Patala (below Rasatala), yet others account it was Rasatala. However, Patala is also used to describe all 7 Lokas or seven lower regions of the 14 Lokas. The very lowest of them is the land of the Nagas.
The Sage Narada described Patala as full of gems, gold and intriguing maiden beings (which can be dangerous). Certainly the gems and gold would be of interest to the Rakshasas, since that is why they also had interest in Lanka where many sapphires are found.
So actually, perhaps Rasatala isn’t such a bad place to live after all.
Now Sita Devi also was taken into the Earth after the foolish citizens of Ram Raj did not believe her chastity after being held captive by Ravana. Humans never stop their rumors and back-biting and gossip. Such is our ways. In some accounts of Ramayana, as She entered the Earth then She went also into Rasatala i.e. a lower underworld.
So now think about this. If indeed the Rakshasas fled to Rasatala, and later Sita Devi also went to Rasatala, then wouldn’t She encounter the Rakshasas?
Unless of course the Rakshasas are no longer there. You see, there are many, many mysteries to the Underworld. I suspect the Rakshasas are indeed there. And if Sita went there, there is a consideration. And that would be, though the Rakshasas were demonic and abused Sita while She was held captive, they didn’t kill her. In fact, in one way they were quite good prison guards as far as Rakshasas are concerned. And in fact, many Rakshasas came to consider Her their Queen of sorts, a “consort” of Ravana. Thus when Sita left the world, and while She entered into the embrace of Earth, perhaps She did go to the Underworld. Perhaps She encountered the Rakshasas there, and perhaps King Bali. And while the Underworld would certainly not be my choice of destinations, perhaps the Underworld isn’t so bad. And we can see, one can return from there. Many do, as said King Bali returns once a year.
I would not be surprised if Sita would be practically treated as a Queen by the Rakshasas who were refugees there. At least, that is a possibility? And when Bali returns once a year, does He ever bring something with him to Earth? Would He ever bring something that was held in the hand of Sita?
So, esteemed members of the forum, where do you think Rasatala is? What of the Underworld? Siddhars go there and come back.
As is my saying and the theme of the website I am working on, "There are wonders in India" (if you choose to look) and "Adventures await the brave".
Om Namah Sivaya
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