Brahmaloka

Brahmaloka (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मालोक, IAST: Brahmāloka) or Satyaloka (Sanskrit: सत्यलोक) is the abode of Brahma, the creator god, a member of the Trimurti along with Vishnu and Shiva, along with his consort Saraswati.[1] It is also referred to as Brahmapura,[2] in the Puranas. Brahmaloka is described to be 60,000,000 miles above the Prajapati loka and is considered to be of great soteriological significance. It is a sphere where the inhabitants never again know death, dwelling perpetually in the company of yogins, and drinking the excellent nectar of yoga.[3]

Brahmaloka, as seen on the head of Vishnu's Vishvarupa form as the Cosmic Man

Location

In the center of Brahmaloka is Brahmapura, a huge palace where Brahma resides.

Description

Brahmaloka is a realm composed entirely of Brahman, considered superior to the Svarga loka and full of immortal energy, knowledge and bliss. It is also known as the planet of the Bhagavān.[4]

The above statement shows that Brahmaloka is an eternal Vaikuntha that is neither created nor located within the material realm and is a home for the Supreme Soul.

Brahman-lokah esa atma-lokah "Brahmaloka is the planet of the Supreme Soul."

The Chāndogya Upaniṣad says in 8:1[5]

"Within the Brahmapura is an abode, a small lotus-flower within which is a small space (antarakasa). What is within that, should be searched out. That, assuredly, is what one should desire to understand."

Buddhism

In Buddhism, Brahmaloka refers to the highest celestial worlds, the abode of the Brahmas. It consists of twenty heavens, namely:

  • the nine ordinary Brahma-worlds,
  • the Vehapphala
  • the Asaññasatta
  • the five Suddhāvāsā,
  • the four Arūpa worlds,

All except the four Arūpa worlds are classed among the Rūpa worlds (the inhabitants of which are corporeal). The inhabitants of the Brahmaloka are free from sensual desires. Brahmaloka consists only of higher devas or higher celestial beings called Brahmas and rebirth in the Brahma world is the result of great virtue due to meditation. The Jataka tales also contain various instances of ascetics who practiced meditation, being reborn after death in Brahmaloka. Furthermore, it is believed that while the rest of the world will be destroyed at the end of a kappa, the Brahmaloka will survive and that the first beings to be born on Earth will come from the ābhassara Brahma world. The Brahmās here are represented as visiting earth and taking an interest in the affairs of men. This is why Nārada descends from the Brahmaloka to dispel the heresies of King Angati in the Lord Brahma-Nārada tale in the Mahanipata Jataka.

See also

References
  1. Mādhava (1986). Srimad Sankara digvijayam. Padmanaban. p. 86.
  2. "'Verse 5.' Bramha Samhita - ISKCON Desire Tree". ISKCON Desire Tree. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  3. Soifer, Deborah A. Myths of Narasimha and Vamana, The: Two Avatars in Cosmological Perspective. SUNY Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1-4384-2063-9.
  4. Sri Brahma Samhita: with the commentary Dig-darsani-tika of Sri Jiva Gosvami. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. ISBN 9789171497093.
  5. "Holy Upanishads: Chhandogya Upanishad: Part 8". Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. Retrieved 2013-01-06.

Literature
  • Self-Realization Brahmaanubhava: The Advaitic Perspective of Shankara: Brahmaanubhava: The Advaitic Perspective of Shankara (Cultural Heritage and Contemporary Change. Series Iiib, South Asia, V. 4) von Vensus A. George von Council for Research in Values & (Januar 2001) - page 103
  • Sharma, Shubhra. Life In The Upanishads. Abhinav Publications; 1 edition (February 14, 2011)
  • chhandogya upanishad as PDF
  • Twitchell, Paul (1988) The Far Country. Illuminated Way Publishing. ISBN 0-914766-91-0
  • Twitchell, The Far Country as PDF
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