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Today, we explore the topic of lokas, or cosmic planes. This subject is profound and not easily found in common sources. My primary references are The Hidden Powers of Humans by Svāmījī, Dance with Śiva from the Himalayan Academy, and teachings from the Kurma Mahāpurāṇa and Svāmī Śivananda's What Happens to the Soul After Death. The word loka means a place, an area, or the universe. Its root is related to shining, radiance, and that which is clear and visible. Lokas denote the level of an individual’s consciousness—the plane of awareness and the dimension of manifested existence. The cosmos consists of 52 lokas or cosmic planes, much like learning the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet, with 14 being fundamental. Our ātman originates from the highest loka, Satyaloka. Movement among the lokas is not a spatial journey but a shift within our own consciousness. It is a change in what the consciousness is focused upon. For instance, in the waking state, we are at the level of Bhūrloka (the earth). In the dreaming state, we are at the level of the astral worlds. In deep sleep or deep meditation, we are at the level of the highest worlds. Similarly, we experience these planes within our own mind. Beautiful thoughts, such as those at satsaṅga, make us feel as if we are in heaven, in the higher lokas. Negative thoughts, feelings, or bad company (kusaṅga) place us in the lower lokas. The lokas differ in the quality of being, the conditions of existence, the duration of life, and the degree of suffering or bliss experienced. The soul moves between them based on its desires and actions—its karma. In Indian cosmology, lokas are depicted as flat discs. A galaxy, viewed from the side, also appears as a flat disc. The distances between lokas are measured in trillions of light-years. The worlds arose from the cosmic egg (Brahmāṇḍa), and the highest loka, Satyaloka, is its shell. Together, the lokas form the universe. As the Vedas and Svāmījī often state, the universe is within our body, and our body is the universe. Thus, the lokas are also within us, residing in the cakras. Cakras are energy centers that draw in and channel cosmic energy. On the physical level, they correspond to glands and nerve plexuses. There are 14 basic lokas: seven lower and seven higher. Our Earth is exactly in the middle—the lowest of the higher lokas. Above it are the heavenly realms; below it are the subterranean worlds. The cosmos is often divided into three realms (tri-loka): the gross material world (Bhūḥ), the astral world (Bhuvaḥ), and the celestial or causal world (Svaḥ). We know this concept from the Purāṇas, where a boon might be sought to become the ruler of the three worlds. These three correspond to Earth, the inner or astral world (Antarloka), and Śivaloka or Brahmaloka—the world of highly purified energy, creativity, and intuition, where souls have radiant bodies made of particles of light. We can experience this highest world in deep meditation or deep sleep. Every lower loka is a microcosm of the higher one—a smaller and less purified reflection. Bhūrloka The first is Bhūrloka, where we are. Bhu comes from the root 'to be'—it is the place of existence. It also means the Earth. This is the material sphere, the gross world perceived through the five senses. It is also called Martyaloka, the realm of death (mṛtyu), for whoever comes here must leave. Bhūrloka corresponds to the Mūlādhāra cakra (mūla means root), the first human cakra where the earth element rules. In the earthly body, we have five kośas (sheaths) covering the ātman: 1. Annamaya Kośa – the food body, the physical sheath. 2. Prāṇamaya Kośa – the energy body. 3. Manomaya Kośa – the body of mind. 4. Vijñānamaya Kośa – the body of intellect. 5. Ānandamaya Kośa – the body of bliss. The Ānandamaya Kośa is also called the causal body, for karmic records are stored here, moving from one life to another to create destiny. Bhūrloka corresponds to the Annamaya Kośa, the physical body. It is the sphere of the senses—five senses of perception and five of action. Earth is the place where we perform karma and work out our karmic debts. All sacred scriptures emphasize the preciousness and importance of human life, for here we have the equipment for realization. The Purāṇas state the boundary of Bhūrloka is where the rays of the moon and sun meet. Bhuvaḥloka The next higher sphere is Bhuvaḥloka, the astral sphere or the atmosphere. It corresponds to the Svādhiṣṭhāna cakra and the Prāṇamaya Kośa. When the soul departs to Bhuvaḥloka, it leaves the physical body on Earth and retains the four subtle bodies. It is the realm of dreams and fantasy, a transition between the earthly and heavenly realms. Here, desires and cravings are prominent. It is the space between the Earth and the Sun. Within Bhuvaḥloka exist further sub-lokas: Pretaloka: The realm of souls who have departed physical existence but remain bound to Earth due to attachment. These are often souls overly attached to sensory pleasures or rigid in their worldly orders. Without a physical body, they cannot satisfy their lingering mental desires and thus suffer. The offering called Śrāddha is performed to assist these souls. The mantras chanted have strong vibrations to help the soul release attachments. While we may not perform these rituals, we can send light to guide such souls upward. To avoid Pretaloka, we must work now to control the senses, cultivate wisdom, live with discipline, and renounce insatiability. Pitṛloka: The realm of the ancestors, connected with the moon. Souls who performed beneficial activities without selfish motives—like creating public gardens or wells—come here. They have subtle radiant bodies but are still bound by karma and desires, without God-realization. They stay for a long time (thousands of years) but temporarily, exhausting their merit before returning to the cycle of birth. Personal experiences illustrate these states. When my grandparents passed away, I felt they were very happy and surprised by their joy. When my father passed, it was more complicated; he seemed lost, not realizing he had died, needing light to find his way. My grandparents, though not overtly spiritual, lived helpful lives and transitioned smoothly. My father, though spiritually inclined, struggled with mental illness and did not live according to his words. This shows the importance of how one lives, putting spiritual principles into honest practice. I once had an unusual experience of sudden bliss while walking, as if in heaven. Moments later, I learned a lady had died in an accident nearby. I felt I might have shared in her transitional state. Walking the spiritual path greatly helps our relatives and friends on their journeys. Visualizing my master, I knew he was in the best place. Having Svāmījī and walking this path is tremendous support. A guru-brother once dreamt of his stepfather, an alcoholic who had passed away. The stepfather thanked him for walking the spiritual path, saying it was a great help, and urged him to continue. Even with our family dog, who was dying of cancer, there was a lesson. My mother asked him to wait for her return to say goodbye. He held on despite suffering. I finally told him he was free to go. I went to perform āratī, and upon returning, found he had crawled under the altar to pass away. This shows the importance of a supportive environment for the dying. Traditionally, the dying person has visions of the world they are entering—seeing light and heavenly beings if they have lived purely. Those present can share in this atmosphere, making the departure smoother. This practice has largely disappeared today. Bhuvaḥloka is a vast realm containing the sun, moon, planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn), and stars. Here lies the constellation of the Great Bear (Saptarṣi or Saptarṣiloka, the seven sages). Interestingly, this constellation is called the Great Bear across many cultures worldwide. Above it is the Pole Star, considered the center of the sky. Beyond this region is Svargaloka. Svargaloka Svargaloka is analogous to the Christian heaven. However, the stay here is temporary; when the soul exhausts its merit, it returns to the cycle of birth. It is also called Devaloka (world of deities) or Indraloka (world of Indra). It is the space between the sun and the Pole Star. In our body, it corresponds to the Maṇipūra cakra and the Manomaya Kośa. Souls here no longer have a physical or prāṇic body but possess the mental and higher sheaths. At this mental level, one gains a mental eye that sees, hears, and feels everything. Whatever the soul desires, it can attain through a subtle wish. Everything here is composed of subtle particles of fire, which is why gods and angels (devatās) are depicted as radiant beings. The gods live here for a certain period. According to the Upaniṣads, true immortality can only be attained on Earth through self-realization. Svargaloka is the abode of sages, bhaktas, and karmayogīs, as well as apsarās (celestial dancers) and gandharvas (celestial singers). Indra, the ruler here, is a title for the deity who controls the senses. This title lasts for one Manvantara, a period of over 300 million years. There is a story about Indra. After winning a battle against the asuras, he wanted to build a perfect, eternal palace. He tasked Viśvakarmā, the divine architect, but was never satisfied, constantly demanding changes. Brahmā complained to Viṣṇu, who took the form of a young boy. The boy praised the palace but remarked that no Indra before had such a beautiful one. When a multitude of ants appeared, the boy laughed, explaining they were all former Indras who, due to bad karma, were reborn as ants. Then, Śiva appeared as an old ascetic with a tuft of hair on his chest, explaining each hair was a Brahmā who had come and gone. Indra then saw the impermanence of all things, his ego diminished, and he completed the construction. Svargaloka is where souls who have not yet attained liberation enjoy the fruits of their good actions. Souls who follow dharma, live positively, control their senses, hold no resentment, and perform beneficial deeds come here. There is no illness, old age, or suffering—only compassion, joy, and purification. Here, the soul enjoys the fruits of past karma but creates no new karma. Therefore, yogis do not long for Svargaloka; they seek Atmajñāna (Self-knowledge) and liberation. The three realms—Bhūḥ (Earth), Bhuvaḥ (Astral), and Svaḥ (Heaven)—dissolve during pralaya (cosmic dissolution). Time is cyclical, with periods of creation and dissolution alternating. Pralaya occurs at the end of Brahmā's day, which lasts 4.32 billion years. At that time, these three lokas are destroyed. However, inhabitants of Svargaloka can ascend to higher lokas, as the dissolution only reaches as far as the constellation of the Great Bear. Beyond the Pole Star, the higher, indestructible worlds unfold. Maharloka The higher loka beyond is Maharloka. Maha means great—it is a place of greatness and glory. It corresponds to the Anāhata cakra and the Vijñānamaya Kośa. It is the highest level of the astral world. Souls here are still within the cycle of birth but are not born in the current cycle of creation. They live for an immensely long time—throughout Brahmā's entire day (4.32 billion years). It is a state without desires or thoughts, the sphere of sages. Janaloka Next is Janaloka. Jana means people. It is the sphere of creativity and liberated souls, corresponding to the Viśuddhi cakra and the Ānandamaya Kośa. The soul here has the final subtle sheaths. The Ānandamaya Kośa experiences the highest levels of bliss, though it remains the causal body with karmic records, so individuality persists. The inhabitants have bodies of pure consciousness. It is the loka of divine wisdom and the plane beyond bodily death. Advanced, spiritually peaceful beings who have mastery over the five elements and the ten senses live here for even longer—twelve kalpas (approximately 51 billion years). Tapaloka Then comes Tapaloka. Tapas means creative fervor and spiritual energy gained through meditation and austerity. It is the sphere of asceticism, corresponding to the Ājñā cakra. Here resides the Guru Tattva. It still corresponds to the Ānandamaya Kośa. This is the abode of ascetic yogis and the seven ṛṣis (who can also manifest in lower lokas). In our body, the seven ṛṣis are connected with prāṇa. Beings here are entirely liberated from suffering, always in meditation, and possess immense wisdom. Satyaloka The last is Satyaloka. Sat is truth or true reality. It is also called Brahmaloka. It corresponds to the Sahasrāra cakra. Here, the final kośa, the Ānandamaya Kośa, dissolves. A person with jñāna is realized. Here is the Ādi Tattva, the principle of the divine Self. Satyaloka reaches the shell of the cosmic egg. Souls who reach here do not return to worldly existence. They are free from desires and limitations, remaining until the dissolution of the universe, when they merge with the Absolute. For yogis seeking ultimate liberation, it is the only gateway. For devotees of Śiva, Satyaloka becomes Śivaloka; for devotees of Viṣṇu, it becomes Vaikuṇṭha. Thus, we have covered the seven higher worlds. Distances between them are given in yojanas. For example, the stars of the Great Bear are a thousand yojanas from Saturn. The Pole Star is 100,000 yojanas above the Little Bear. Maharloka is 10 million yojanas above the Pole Star, Janaloka is 20 million above that, and Satyaloka is 120 million yojanas above Janaloka. These are immense distances. Perhaps one day we will understand the exact measure of a yojana or convert these into light-years.