Shiva Loka Vishnu Loka Brahma Loka

We are situated in the brahmadanda (crudely translated as solar-system in English) of Chatur-mukhi (Four-Faced) Brahma-Dev. This is the fourth largest solar-system in the Universe, with that of the One-Faced Brahma being the smallest. Like this, there are Lord Brahmas having hundreds of thousands of Heads, governing brahmadandas having proportionately similar dimensions. Our brahmadanda, for instance, has a radius of 4 billion miles. Quite logically, there are brahmadandas that are millions of times greater than ours. And this is backed up by science, too! In our own galaxy, we have discovered suns many hundreds or thousands of times greater than ours. It is stated in the scriptures that counting the number of dust particles on the surface of the earth, or floating in its atmosphere, may just be possible, but not counting, or stating, the number of brahmadandas in the existence. Thus, it is very clearly established that there are infinite brahmadandas - each having a Governing Trio of Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra.

Now, I will take this space to make some misconceptions clear. It is stated, a few times, that some pious devotees of Shiva attain to Kailasha, live there for a few million years, and return to the human womb after that - i.e. continue the cycle of transmigration (Janma-Mrityu-Janma) of birth-and-death like ordinary pious souls who go to Swarga-loka, the world of Indra, Agni and co. Thus, the Kailasha mentioned here is the Kailasha situated within the brahmadanda, on the earthly plane. That mountain, Kailasha, is much much bigger, and infinitely more beautiful, opulent, grand, and magnificent, than the ordinary dwarf-mountain we see in its place today. The simple reason being that the world of Shiva is not accessible to ordinary humans. We have neither the eyes, nor the qualification to view it. Anyway, it is thus established that the Kailasha mentioned in the scriptures is this earthly Kailasha, which is different from the Shiva-loka I will describe below. That Shiva-loka is eternal, and after having attained it, one does not return to this material world.

Infinite brahmadandas = Mahat-tattva (total material creation).This Mahat-tattva, which resembles a dark cloud, is surrounded by water on all sides. Just as the aforesaid Mount Kailas has wonderful supra-dimensional properties, so also is this water-body a very wonderful thing. It is called Virajaa, and is likened to a river. No liberated soul can leave behind the prison-house of Maya without crossing this Virajaa River. As soon as the liberated soul enters into its spiritual waters, the subtlest of the remaining mayic defilements dissolve into its extraordinary substance, and the soul becomes truly divine.

Beyond this Virajaa river is situated 3/4th of the total existence (the aforementioned Mahat-tattva constituting the remaining 1/4th), and is called Parah-Vyoma, or Vaikuntha. This spiritual sky contains the following lokas, or worlds, in ‘ascending’ order of spiritual position.

Siddha-lok: This is where the Gyanis remain immersed in Nirgun-Brahm. The soul, having destroyed its mind, becomes one with the formless Aspect of God, and enjoys infinite, ineffable Peace called Bahmananda. Such a gyani experiences ‘I’ wherever he goes. Because the triputi (triad) of gyata-gyan-geya or knower-knowledge-known has fallen away, the soul experiences ‘I’ as akhand and One. Theoretically, the gyanis say that due to absolute Adwaita (or non-duality), the ‘soul’ doesn’t experience Bliss, because ‘I’ itself is Bliss. But everyone knows the gyanis look forward to this state only because of the bliss. Puri Shankaracharya waxed philosophical about this paradox by calling it ‘vichitra’ or strange. Vaishnavas can perfectly explain why gyanis feel bliss, but such philosophizing is, frankly, beyond my current level of experience or knowledge.

Anyway, Gyanis opine that such a state is not subject to space, and thus there is no such ‘space’ or sky called siddha-lok. But Vaishnavas, who have a better understanding of the ved richas, certainly do. Those who realize their ‘Shivatva’ or oneness with Shiva and Kali also remain suspended here. Due to absence of empirical duality, the soul certainly is emancipated from the suffering he used to experience before, but it doesn’t experience real happiness. The gyanis, digging their own grave as regards position of their school of thought, famously state that this ‘state or condition’ is an extrapolation of deep-sleep or sushupti. But sushupti, according to the Vaishnavas, is just cessation of suffering. It is only because we don’t suffer during deep sleep (due to suspension of the mind) that we feel peace. This is not real happiness. Anand or happiness is only and only Shri Krishna.

Vaikuntha: This divine sky, or sphere, probably (how can I possibly even know the correct percentage? I can only guess) makes up 80% of the total Parah-Vyoma, or the total spiritual existence. This section of the spiritual sky is filled with virtually infinite lokas, each loka being governed by an avatar of God. Hayagreev, Dhumavati, Varaaha, Kaal-bhairav, Meenakshi, Matsya, Khandoba, Koorma, Kaali, Mohini, Dattatreya, Kapila, etc. etc. - all of These Wonderful incarnations of God have one loka designated for each of Them. It’s like wonderland, but infinitely better. Imagine a loka of Jain Teerthankars, of Buddhas, Christian Heaven, Jannah, etc. etc. etc. Broadly however, These lokas may be categorized as: 2. Kaumara-loka - the worlds of Lord Karthikeya,

Gaanpatya-loka: the worlds of Lord Ganesha,

Shiva-loka: the worlds of Shiva, led by Kailasha. Half of Shiva-loka is eternally covered with impenetrable darkness, where not even the slightest trace of light is visible. The other half shines brightly, as if lit by a billion moons. This part of Shiva-loka is beyond the splendor and beauty of anything below it. It is filled with snow-capped mountains, gushing rivers, meadows, plains, fields, forests - and every land-form, or water-body imaginable. In the center of that world, beneath a humongous Banyan-tree and on a Tiger-skin, is seated Lord Sadashiva, the Master of Jeeva, and Maya. This Aspect of God is celebrated in the Vaishnav Puranas as Parabrahma, the Origin of infinite Brahmas, Vishnu, and Rudras, and the Equal of Lord Narayana. He is surrounded by His quirky, yet divine, Retinue, headed by the Divine Bull, Nandi, Ganesha, Kumara, etc. In this Shiva-loka, Lord Shiva is sometimes engaged in samadhi (wherein He either meditates on His Own Self, on Parvati, or Sankarashana-Adi-Shesha, His Master), and sometimes is seen interacting with His devotees, who have different relationships with Him laden with various sentiments (e.g. the disciple-Master relationship as illustrated in the Dakshina-Murti incarnation).

Devi-loka: the worlds of Devi, led by Mani-Dveepa. Mani-dveepa is the spiritual station of Bhuvaneshwari, the Four-armed Form of Devi. This Mani-dveepa has a strange structure. It resembles an island, and is filled with compartments, much like concentric rectangles, or squares. Each of the outer squares perform the function of ramparts for the inner squares. Due to being studded with spiritual gems of great wonder, this island is known as Mani-dveepa. A very mighty Form of Lord Vishnu lies in one of the outer compartments, followed by various Forms of the Great Goddess, Devi. In the center of that great island, lies Devi Bhuvaneshwari Herself, sometimes called as Lalita Tripurasundari. Lalita is seated a Divine Cot of Lord Shiva, whose four legs constitute of Lords Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and Ishwara, thus proving Her as the Origin of infinite Brahmas, Vishnus, and Rudras. In this island, the Great Goddess rules as an Empress, and maintains some distance from Her subjects.

Vaikuntha-loka: the worlds of Lord Vishnu, led by Vaikuntha. Lord Narayana, and Goddess Mahalakshmi are the Supreme Sovereigns of all the above worlds of the spiritual sky, and thus, this section is collectively called as Vaikuntha. Lord Narayana is the celebrated Purusha of the Purush-sookta, the Lord of all Lords. There is no Form of God Who has as much, or more, opulence than Him. Vaikuntha is the final frontier when it comes to Wealth, Royalty, Magnificence, and Grandeur. While Kailash is more inclined towards nature, Vaikuntha is filled with cities of the most extraordinary Grandeur. This most Opulent, Extravagant, and Affluent Spiritual World derives all its Wealth from Mahakshmi, Who is the Spiritual Wealth of all living beings, and is the All-in-all. Due to the sheer amount of spiritual Gold, Gems, Crystals, and Pearls, found in this world, it shines the brightest among all the other worlds of the Spiritual Sky. Here, Four-Armed Sriman Narayana rules as Emperor, with His Sakti, Mahalakshmi, as rightful Empress. This Divine Couple is celebrated in the vedas as the First Couple, and is surrounded by divine Beings, like Garuda, Adi-Shesha, and Vivaksen. Vaikuntha loka is located near Makar Rashi or Capricorn in Greek.

The parks there shine like final liberation itself, and contain wish-fulfilling trees, which blossom all the year round. There are fragrant winds, and creepers dripping with honey near bodies of water. Cries of exotic birds mingle with the humming of bees, and magnificent flowers bloom everywhere. Devotees of Vishnu along with their beautiful wives travel in aerial vehicles made of jewels, emeralds and gold, but the beautiful smiling residents of this realm cannot distract the minds of the opposite sex, since everyone is absorbed in Krishna (III.15.14-25). The inhabitants of the Vaikuntha planets are described as having a glowing sky blue complexion. Their eyes resemble lotus flowers, their dress is of yellowish color, and their bodily features are very attractive. They are just the age of growing youths, they all have four hands, they are all nicely decorated with pearl necklaces with ornamental medallions, and they all appear to be effulgent(basically bright beautiful to eyes). (BP 2.9.11). The Brahma Vaivarta Purana explicitly describes Goloka Vrindavan(Planet where Avtar Krishna lives) to be about 500 million yojanas (4 billion miles) above Vaikuntha loka and expands till 30 million yojanas (240 million miles). The depiction is similar with a verse found in brahma samhita 5.43. Using Yojana calculation 10000 Yojana =1.143 light years approx. Vaikuntha loka is found to be 29717.66 light years from Earth in the constellation of Capricornus.

Saaket-loka: The world of Lords Sri Sri Seeta Ramachandra. Lord Rama appears in the material world as the Scion of the Raghu Dynasty, and the Darling of King Janaka and Queen Kausalya, and Seeta is born to King Janaka-the greatest authority in Gyan-Maarg, and Sunaina. In Saaket-loka, Lord Rama is eternally the Husband of Paraamba Seeta Devi, the Origin of all Shaktis, and the Supreme Mother Divine. This Two-Armed Humanoid Form of God is celebrated in the vedic scriptures as the original Parabrahma. Sure, Lord Rama is also a Prince, but He is so much more than that. He is the Son of the King and Queen, Friend of the ‘lower-class’ of the Divine Society, Friend of monkeys and bears like Hanuman and Jaambavan, and a mendicant in Chitrakoot. Lord Rama is the Mightiest Hero in the Spiritual Sky, having the strength to break Lord Shiva’s divine Bow, Pinaak.

Go-loka: The world of Lords Sri Sri Radha Krsna. Lord Krsna appears as the Darling of Nanda, and Yashoda, and Sri Radharani as the most precious Darling of King Vrshabhaanu and Mother Kirti. Go-loka is the most nature-friendly abode of God amongst all. There’s streams, there’s the mighty Yamuna river, the Govardhana peak, the Forests, the Bowers, the Cows!, the peacocks, the parrots, etc. etc. It’s just the most wonderful scenic Place in the spiritual Sky. All the Forms of God are ever-eager to play in the forests of Go-loka, especially Vrindavana - the seat of pastimes of the Divine Couple, Radha-Krishna. This is also the most secretive among the Worlds of God. Due to God’s inherent nature of being infinitely Merciful and Affectionate without reason, He has done away with all His Grandeur, Royalty, and Power here.

In this World, He is merely a Cowherd-Boy. He is the Master of Dharuk, etc., Son to the devotees like Yashoda and Nanda-Baba, Friend to Shridama, Mansukh, Dhansukh, etc., and the Beloved of Lalita, Vishakha, Chandravali, etc. Due to such closeness, all awareness of the constitutional position, of God and individual soul, vanishes, and what is left is ineffable, indescribable, extraordinary sweetness! The Sakha's of Gokul ride upon God’s Back, and the Gopis make Him dance to the tune of their claps. Mother Yashoda scolds Him and threatens to beat and Him, and Lalita, Vishakha, enjoy Him begging their permission to meet Sri Radharani.

Thus, the Super-excellent Worlds of God have been described above. Most of it has been sourced from Brhad-Bhagavat-Amrita, Brahma-Samhita, and the Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam Purana (a Shakt scripture, btw). The hierarchical order of the position of the Spiritual Worlds, however, is simple fact. One only need look at it with logic to understand. Would you rather enjoy spending eternity with the professional version of your son/husband/father/friend (when he is all serious, and straight-faced at work), or his at-home version (where he allows the kids to climb on his shoulders, his mother to scold him and ruffle his hair, and the wife to hug him)? The Absolute Truth is right in front of you, and it must’ve surely struck a logical chord within. Now, the rest is up to you. It is not a question of superiority of spiritual power, or physical strength, but a matter of Rasa - or divine Bliss. Jay Shri Krishna