Theory of Karman in Indian Thought

Author(s): Koshelya Walli
Publisher: Bharat Manisha

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Hell
There is no clear mention of Naraka ( hell) as such in the Rgveda. There is an indirect reference to it in some places. I Indra and Soma are called upon to strive down the evil doers into bottomless darkness.2 Indra is implored by the sage to send down into darkness whoever attacks him and his disciple.3
In the Atharveveda4 there is a reference to 'Naraka loka'. In the Vājasaneyisanhitā,5 the Viraha is relegated to naraka The Satapaiha Brāhmaṇa finds reference to torments of hell, viz. men cutting upto the limbs of others one for crimes committed. According to the Taittiriya Aranyaka.? there are four narakas namely Visarpin, Avisarpin, Visādin and Avisādin in the Southeast, South-west, North-west and North-east.
The Kauşītaki Brāhmaṇas gives us the idea that a man in this world eats the flesh of beasts, in the same manner, in the next. world, the beasts eat men.
Naraka not a place
In anc'ent India, people believed that heaven and hell are: not places. . According to Gautama, heaven is in speaking truth and hell is in telling lies. 9 According to Gautamalo sages of the past are of the opinion that Naraka is nothing more than this loss of capacity and of the fruits of good acts. The commentator Haradattall remarks that Gautama's own view is that Naraka is a particular place where man has to dwell solely in distress and sorrow. Thus opinions differ whether Naraka or Svarga was a place or not. Some regard Naraka as a place and others do not. believe in the idea. 1. Rgveda IV.5.5 2. Rgveda VII, 104.2 3. Kgveda X. 152.4 4. Atharvcvada XII. 4.36 5. Vajasan visamhita XXX 5 6. Satapatha Brahman. XI. 6.1.4 7. Taittiriya Aranyaka 1. 19 8. Kauşitaki Brāhmaṇ. XI.3 9. 1901: 567ga face 775: 11 13.7. 10. Gautama Dharmasutra 21.4-6. 11. Hai a fafruz at :haract art les fail