Lokas Or Planes: The Seven Planes By Sri Swami Sivananda
There are seven planes. planes. They are Bhuloka (earth plane), plane), Bhuvarloka (Antariksha or the astral plane), plane), Svargaloka (heaven or the mental plane), plane), Maharloka Maharloka,, Janaloka Janaloka,, Tapoloka and Satyaloka (Brahmaloka or the world of Brahma of Brahma,, the Creator ). ). Tapasvins dwell in Tapoloka.. If you keep different kinds of lights Tapoloka of lights in a room such as kerosene oil light light,, mustard oil light light,, petromax, candle light light,, electric light light;; the various lights interpenetrate in the room. Even so, the Lokas interpenetrate. Each plane has its own matter matter of of an appropriate degree of destiny of destiny,, which interpenetrates the matter matter of of the plane next below it. The astral plane, plane, or Bhuvarloka or Bhuvarloka,, interpenetrates the earth plane and extends for some distance beyond it. The mental plane interpenetrates the astral but also extends further into space than does the latter. The vibrations of the astral world are more rapid or quicker than those of the physical the physical plane. plane. The vibrations of the mental plane are more rapid or quicker than those of the astral plane. plane. The vibrations of the Satyaloka are more rapid or quicker than those of the mental plane. plane. In each plane the soul develops a new and higher sense higher sense of power. When you pass from one plane to another you do not move in space space.. You simply change your consciousness your consciousness.. You change your focus of consciousness of consciousness.. You can have different sorts of vision of vision through the telescope or microscope or microscope by using lenses of different degrees of potency or power. You have got different vehicles within yourself which correspond to different planes different planes and which can function in different planes different planes.. In the dreaming state your astral your astral body functions. In the deep sleep state your causal your causal body functions. Even so, in the astral plane your astral your astral body operates, in the mental plane your mental body operates, in the Brahmaloka your causal your causal body functions. Each plane is formed by matter matter of of different degrees of density. In the mental plane the matter matter is is subtler than in the astral plane. plane. In the causal plane the matter matter is is subtler than the matter matter of of mental mental plane.. The planes plane The planes occupy the same position same position in space space.. Heaven is here. Brahmaloka is here. Have a different vehicle or body b ody and a different subtler eye subtler eye.. You can function in any plane. In the physical the physical plane one gets knowledge of objects of objects through the five Jnana-Indriyas or organs of knowledge of knowledge,, viz., ear , skin, eye eye,, tongue tongue,, nose nose.. In the mental plane or heaven or heaven he does not hear, see and feel by separate and finite organs organs.. He gets a Divya Chakshus or divine eye eye,, an extraordinary new power or faculty. He can hear, see, feel and know everything of an object instantaneously, through this new mental eye. eye. He gets an accurate and perfect knowledge of all objects objects.. He is not deceived or misled by any external appearance. There is no misunderstanding.
In the mind all the powers of all the senses are blended. Mind is a mixture or compound of all the organs organs.. It can hear, see, taste taste,, smell and feel. He can get everything by mere Sankalpa or willing. If he thinks of a celestial car , it is there before him at once. If he thinks of a place, he is there immediately. If he thinks of a person, he is before him at once. There is no distance d istance for him. There is no feeling of separation for him. He reads the thoughts of others. Hence, questions and answers a re not necessary in the mental plane. plane. The interchange of ideas is very quick. He can know the past and the future also. He is endowed with clairvoyance and clairaudience.. He can simultaneously manifest himself in various forms. clairaudience Heaven is a plane of enjoyment only. It is a place to reap the fruits of one’s good Karmas done in the earth earth-plane. -plane. One cannot do fresh Karmas there. He cannot attain Moksha or the final emancipation from there. He will have to come down to this earth again for trying for his salvation salvation.. Indra, Varuna Indra, Varuna,, Agni Agni,, etc., are the original Devatas or gods or gods of heaven of heaven.. There are KarmaDevas also here. These are men who have raised themselves to the status of Devas of Devas through meritorious actions done in the earth earth-plane. -plane. A Deva has a luminous fire body. Fire preponderates. The Devas exhibit different degrees of brilliance in accordance with different degrees of advancement. There is neither day nor night nor night for a Deva Deva,, or an inhabitant of the mental plane, plane, or heaven or heaven.. He is neither sleeping nor waking nor waking.. When he enters heaven he experiences intense happiness.. This is his waking state. happiness state. He sinks into a state of unconsciousness of unconsciousness when the term of life in heaven terminates. Brahmaloka is the world of Brahma of Brahma or Hiranyagarbha or Hiranyagarbha.. This is also known by the name n ame Satyaloka.. Those who go by the path of Devayana Satyaloka of Devayana reach this plane. Those who perform meritorious actions without expectation of fruits of fruits and who lead the life of purity purity and righteousness and those who worship Hiranyagarbha and all realised Bhaktas will go to this realm realm.. They attain Krama-Mukti or progressive emancipation emancipation.. They enjoy all the Divine Aisvaryas of the Lord and in the end of the cycle merge themselves in Para Brahman along with Brahma Brahma,, the Creator . Brahmaloka becomes Vaikuntha or appears as Vaikuntha for a devotee of Lord of Lord Hari. Hari. It becomes Kailasa or Sivaloka or Sivaloka or appears as Sivaloka for a devotee of Lord of Lord Siva. Siva. It is the attitude that works. *** This was an excerpt from the book What book What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Sri Swami Sivananda.. Sivananda
The death and dying and dying and the life after death has always fascinated man. We want to now the truth behind near behind near death experiences and become certain that there really is a life after death. death. Many books have been written on the subject the subject of of death death , but most of the works deal mainly with the astral astral or or other spirit spirit world . It has mostly been the study of the conditions in the Pretaloka which is merely one among the numerous supramundane numerous supramundane planes or lokas or lokas beyond the grave the grave.. Spiritualism , seance , seance and the testimony of recognised mediums recognised mediums have for most part featured prominently in all such works. What Becomes Of The Soul After Death by Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj is a departure from the usual line in that it is based, to a great extent, upon authoritative scriptural authoritative scriptural texts texts and upon knowledge derived through reasoning, deep reflection and personal meditation.. It throws a flood meditation a flood of of light light upon upon all aspects of life of life after death not adequately dealt with in other works. The book also gives valuable information about the different beliefs on this subject this subject , of the various races and religions and religions.. The book is dealing with rebirth , the soul , reincarnation , moksha , heaven and hell , karma and different lokas different lokas.. It even includes death poems and death and death poetry , giving a complete picture and a new face new face of death. death. For more material see this link: What Becomes Of The Soul After Death. Death. ***
