Everything in creation is either going up or it is going down, nothing is stationary. Presently we are living on earth, but if anyone thinks that he/she will continue to be here birth after birth is a mistaken notion. Like everything in Creation, a being too, moves up or down. Earth is only one level of existence, there are dimensions beyond and below.
The dimension of earth or Bhuloka, is special in that, from here one can reach any dimension based on his/her desire and backed by requisite karmas. Bhuva is the loka higher than earth, reaching here is possible only through complete detachment. Next comes Swarga loka, which can be accessed through recommendations from gods and goddesses. There are specific mantras to please the divine to access Swarga loka.
The loka above Swarga is called the Maha loka, it is the dimension of those beings who are entitled for Swarga, but have no desire to enjoy its pleasures. Beyond this is the Jana loka. Here the beings responsible for creating the “software” that runs the entire creation, reside. Tapa is the next loka and it is for beings who desire to do tapasya. The heat generated by their tapasya gives energy to the sun, powered by which the entire creation runs.
The final dimension is the Satya lok where Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh reside. Only souls which have an unshakable desire to merge with these energies are able to reach here. At the gate of Shiv Dham there are ganas in the form of bhooth, pret and pishach that try and dissuade a sadhak from entering. Nandi is one of the favorite ganas of Lord Shiv who fulfils all physical and material desires to keep the sadhak immersed in them so that he/she does not move to the Shiv Dham.
Even though light is the fastest thing on earth, it cannot traverse through these dimensions in an entire lifetime. Only thoughts can take us to these dimensions.
The dimensions below earth are — Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatal, Mahatala, Rasatala, Paatala, which we should just read and forget. These are for those beings who live a life devoid of service and charity, full of selfishness — in other words, a life of darkness. This includes beings who harm others or even after being in a position of preventing pain of others, look the other way. These souls are sent to these lower lokas to go through the processes of cleansing through pain, fear, claustrophobia and stickiness with slime. The lower worlds are dark as the occupants of these lokas desire only darkness. The forms taken by the souls in these dimensions are gross, slimy, painful and full of pure fear all the time.
In order to become eligible to go to any other loka — higher or lower, one has to come to Bhu loka. In all the other lokas, the time for being is fixed, after the expiry of which one returns to Bhu loka. Even Lord Vishnu, who resides in Vaikunth, which is a subtler part of Satya loka, has to descend to Bhuloka to discharge his duties towards creation. So find a guru, and make the most of the time you have while you are in this dimension. Yoga under a guru is a journey with real experiences, not a day-dreamer’s world where kathas and stories are told to you of others’ experiences, or where you sing, dance, listen to stories and come back , poorer in your pocket. It’s a journey into reality and its your individual journey.
