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are the transformations of unselfish (Nishkama) action or Dharma
the Lokas themselves and the dwellers thereof. The Triloki and the
dwellers thereof are the transformations of selfish (Kamya) action.
Therefore they have birth and death in every Kalpa. But Mahar and
other Lokas are begotten by unselfish action heightened by UpasanS
(or devotion), and they last for two Parardhas, which is the life time
of Brahma. And the dwellers of those Lokas generally attain mukti
(or liberation) after that period."
The ordinary dwellers of Jana Loka are the Kumaras. When
men in course of evolution reach Jana Loka, they become Kumaras.
We have already seen that the essence of life in the higher
Lokas is unselfishness. It is for this reason that the Gita speaks of
unselfish action in the first instance as an essential requisite of spiri-
tual life. But it is not unselfish action alone which enables us to get
rid of our personal desires and to assimilate ourselves with that one
life which pervades all. Devotional love is another equally essential
requisite.
It is impossible for us to realise the different experiences in the
four higher Lokas.
The famous Brahma Sukta has the following line: "The three
feet of fsvara, bearing eternal happiness in the higher Lokas." The
eighteenth Sloka in Chapter VI. of the Second Skandha is an expo-
sition of this line. Sridhara has the following commentary on that
line:
"Happiness in Triloki is fleeting and temporary. Though
Mahar Loka is on the path of liberation, the dwellers of that Loka
have to leave it at the end of every Kalpa. The happiness there is.
therefore not ever-lasting. In Jana Loka, the happiness is ever-last-
ing, as long as the dwellers do not leave the place. But they have to
witness the miseries of the dwellers of Mahar Loka, when they come
to Jana Loka, at the end of the Kalpa. In Tapas, there is absolute
want of evil. In Satya, there is freedom from fear or liberation."
We have left the Devas (not the elementals that pass through
the life kingdoms of this earth) out of consideration. Their evolution
is worked out in all the seven Lokas. Their names and characteristics
in each Loka are given by Vyasa in his commentaries on Patanjali's
Sutras. Those who are ordinarily known as Devas are the dwellers of
Svar Loka. The Deva Yonis or lower Devas are dwellers of Bhuvar
Loka and Bhur Loka. Men have nothing to do with the Devas of
the higher Lokas. The Devas of Triioki are indifferent,, friendly or
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