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----- bhagap132.html
THE PATALAS
SKANDHA V. CHAP. 24.
Ten thousand Yojanas below the Sun is Rahu, son of Sinhika.
Though an Asura, by favour of Bhagavan he became a planet and
immortal too like the Devas.
Ten thousand Yojanas below Rahu is the abode of the Siddhas,
Charanas and Vaidyadharas.
Below that is the abode of the Yakshas, Rakshasas, Pisachas,
Pretas, and BhOtas. This abode extends down to the regions of air
and clouds.
One hundred Yojanas below that is the Earth. The details of
the Earth's surface have been given above.
Underneath the Earth are the seven Patalas: Atala, Vitala,
Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala. They are ten
thousand Yojanas apart from each other.
In these nether Svargas, Daityas, Danavas and Nagas dwell.
Their enjoyments, power, joys and luxuries are even greater than
those of the Devas of Svarga. Their houses, gardens and play-
grounds are very rich. They are always joyous. They are at-
tached to their wives, sons, friends and attendants. By the grace of
fsvara, their desires are always gratified.
Maya, the Danava Magician, has built wonderful houses, gar-
dens ??c. in these regions with precious stones.
There are no divisions of time, as the Sun's rays do not enter
those regions and no disturbances from such divisions. All darkness
is removed by the light of the precious stones on the head of the
serpent king.
The people of Patala use divine herbs and medicines, and
consequently they have no infirmities, diseases, old age, langour and
offensive secretions.
They have no death except by the Chakra of Bhagavan (*. e.
final extinction).
Atala: Bala, the son of Maya resides in Atala (Maya is a
masculine form of Maya the root Prakriti). He created here 96 forms
of Maya. The Mayavins (those who practice Magic) still have re-
course to those forms. When he yawns, three classes of women
spring into existence viz: (i) Svairini (self willed loose women), (2)
Kamini (passionate women) and (3) Punschali (unchaste women).
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