Sinners are sent to various Narakas (Hells) by Yamaraja according to the nature and seriousness of their sins. According to the Garuda Purana there are a total of 28 Narakas. They are as follows.
(1) Tamisram (Heavy flogging) -Those who rob others of their wealth are bound with ropes by Yama’s Servants and cast into the Naraka known as Tamisram. There, they are given a thrashing until they bleed and faint. When they recover their senses, the beating is repeated. This is done until their time is up.
(2) Andhatamtrsam (Flogging) -This Hell is reserved for the Husband or the Wife who only treat their spouses well when they are to profit or pleasure to them. Those who forsake their wives and husbands for no apparent reasons are also sent here. The punishment is almost the same as Tamisram, but the excruciating pain, suffered by the victims on being tied fast, makes them fall down senseless.
(3) Rauravam (torment of snakes) – This is the hell for sinners who seize and enjoy another man’s property or resources. When these people are thrown into this hell, those whom they have cheated, assume the the shape of “Ruru”, a dreadful serpent. The serpent(s) will torment them severely until their time is up.
(4) Mahararuravam (death by snakes) – Here there is also Ruru serpents but more fiercer. Those who deny the legitimate heirs, their inheritance and possess and enjoy others property will be squeezed and bitten non stop by this terrible serpents coiling around them. Those who steal another man’s wife or lover will also be thrown here.
(5) Kumbhipakam (cooked by oil) – This is the hell for those who kill animals for pleasure. Here oil is kept boiled in huge vessels and sinners are plunged in this vessels.
(6) Kalasutram (Hot as hell) – This hell is terribly hot. Those who don’t respect their elders esp. when their elders have done their duties are sent here. Here they are made to run around in this unbearable heat and drop down exhausted from time to time.
(7) Asitapatram (sharp flogging) – This is the hell in which sinners abandon one’s own duty. They are flogged by Yama’s Servants with whips made of asipatra (sharp-edged sword-shaped leaves). If they run about under the flogging, they will trip over the stones and thorns, to fall on their faces. Then they are stabbed with knives until they drop unconscious, When they recover, the same process is repeated until their time is up in this Naraka.
(8)Sukaramukham (Crushed and tormented) – Rulers who neglect their duties and oppress their subjects by misrule, are punished in this hell. They are crushed to a pulp by heavy beating.When they recover, it is repeated until their time is up.
(9) Andhakupam (Attack of the animals) – This is hell for those who oppress the good people and not helping them if requested despite having the resources. They will be pushed into a well, where beasts like Lions, tigers, eagles and venomous creatures like snakes and scorpions. The sinners have to endure the constant attacks of this creatures until the expiry of the period of their punishment.
(10) Taptamurti (Burnt Alive) – Those who plunder or steal Gold and jewels are cast into the furnaces of this Naraka which always remains hot in blazing fire.
(11) Krimibhojanam (Food for worms) – Those who do not honour their Guests and make use of men or women only for their own gain, are thrown into this Naraka. Worms, insects and serpents eat them alive. Once their bodies are completely eaten up, the sinners are provided with new bodies, which are also eaten up in the above manner. This continues, till the end of their term of punishment.
(12) Salmali (Embracing hot images) -This Naraka is intended for men and women who have committed adultery. A figure made of iron, heated red-hot is placed there. The sinner is forced to embrace it, while Yama’s servants flog the victim behind.
(13) Vajrakantakasali (Embracing sharp images) – This Naraka is the punishment for Sinners who have unnatural intercourse with animals. Here, they are made to embrace iron images full of sharp diamond needles that pierce through their bodies.
(14) Vaitarani (River of Filth) – Rulers who abuse their power and adulterers are thrown here. It is the most terrible place of punishment. It is a river which is filled with human excreta, blood, hair, bones, nails, flesh and all kinds of dirty substances. There are various kinds of terrible beasts as well. Those who are cast into it are attacked and mauled by these creatures from all sides. The sinners have to spend the term of their punishment, feeding upon the contents of this river.
(15) Puyodakam (Well of hell) – This is a well filled with excreta, urine, blood, phlegm. Men who have intercourse and cheat women with no intention of marrying them are considered like animals. Those who wander about irresponsibly like animals are thrown in this well to get polluted by it’s contents. They are to remain here till their time is up.
(16) Pranarodham (Piece by Piece) – This Naraka is for those who keep dogs and other mean animals and constantly hunt and kill animals for food. Here the servants of Yama, gather around the sinners and cut them limb to limb while subjecting them to constant insult.
(17) Visasanam (Bashing from Clubs) – This Naraka is for the torture of those rich people who look down at the poor and spend excessively just to display their wealth and splendour. They have to remain here at the whole term of their punishment where they will be bashed non stop from heavy clubs from Yama’s Servants.
(18) Lalabhaksam (River of semen) – This is the Naraka for lustful men. The lascivious fellow who makes his wife swallow his semen, is cast into this hell. Lalabhaksam is a sea of semen. The sinner lies in it, feeding upon semen alone until his period of punishment.
(19) Sarameyasanam (Torment from dogs) – Those guilty of unsocial acts like poisoning food, mass slaughter, ruining the country are cast into this hell. There is nothing but the flesh of dogs for food. There are thousands of dogs in this Naraka and they attack the sinners and tear their flesh from their bodies with their teeth.
(20) Avici (turned into dust) – This Naraka is for those who are guilty for false witness and false swearing. There are hurled from a great height and they are utterly smashed into dust when they reached the ground. They are again restored to life and the punishment is repeated till the end of their time.
(21) Ayahpanam (Drinking of burning substances)- Those who consume alcohol and other intoxicating drinks are sent here. The women are forced to drink melted iron in liquid form, whereas the men will be forced to drink hot liquid molten lava for every time they consume a alcoholic drink in their earthly lives.
(22) Raksobjaksam (Revenge attacks)- Those who do animal and human sacrifices and eat the flesh after the sacrifice will be thrown in this hell. All the living beings they killed before would be there and they will join together to attacking, biting, and mauling the sinners. Their cries and complaints would be no avail here.
(23) Sulaprotam (Trident Torture)- People who take the lives of others who have done no harm to them and those who deceives others by treachery are sent to this “Sulaportam” hell. Here they are impaled on a trident and they are forced to spend their whole term of their punishment in that position, suffering intense hunger and thirst, as well as enduring all the tortures inflicted on them.
(24) Ksharakardamam (hanged upside down) -Braggarts and those who insult good people are cast into this hell. Yama’s servants keep the sinners upside down and torture them in many ways.
(25) Dandasukam (eaten alive)- Sinners who persecute others like animals will be sent here. There are many beasts here. They will be eaten alive by this beasts.
(26) Vatarodham (weapon torture)- This hell is for those who persecute animals which live in forrests, mountain peaks and trees. After throwing them in this hell, sinners are tortured with fire, poison and various weapons during their time here in this Naraka.
(27) Paryavartanakam (torture from birds)- One who denies food to a hungry person and abuses him is thrown here. The moment the sinner arrives here ,his eyes are put by being pierced the beaks of birds like the crows and eagles. They will be pierced later on by this birds till the end of their punishment.
(28) Sucimukham (Tortured by needles)- Proud and Miserly people who refuse to spend money even for the basic necessities of life, like better food or buying food for their relations or friends will find their place in this hell. Those who do not repay the money they have borrowed will also be cast into this hell. Here, their bodies will be constantly be pricked and pierced by needles.
Very good & nice studiest work. Thanks
very excellent information for right path of life. at least by reading this type of things reduce the abundance of negative happenings
good article, but now a days people dont have faith on it. So, the article should be so that the people believe
This should be shown to modern day ‘ doots” of yamraj. -in mid east. They may have to face the same fate after …….
The sins according to Garuda puranam is useful. If possible, kinldy upload a tamil version of this for the benefit of all.
Harer Nama! Harer Nama! Harer Nama eva kevalam.
Kalau nasty eva, nasty eva, nasty eva gathir anyatha!
Good article. Thanks .
It adds a great fear in thinking itself..
I’m having a doubt that.. after getting punished in Naraka, will the soul in next life retain the fear for committing sins again?
what happens when ur term is finished in hell?
also what about da evolution of da soul in da 8400000 different species of life.
The big question, why are we always told that we carry karamas
from our past lives ? we have paid our dues in hell, so when we are born we should be new with nill account. Please enlighten my ignorant thinking.
thank you.
You will be reborn on earth based on your lessons learnt. The greatest sinners after their time will be born as trees and from there take birth again as 8400000 species and at last gain Human birth
So this human form is most precious. Use it for the pursuit of God and not personal pleasures.Th efreedom from this cycle of Birth and Death is given in the Bhagavad Gita
I think it would be a good idea to make a movie about the life of some people doing time and suffering the torments of hell because of their sins, like some politicians for example
After punishing in this way Yama fixes them to be good and never commit again such sins. However, in the next life, during his childhood if he/she is not given proper training and are not kept in the association of devotees then previous karma samskar will induce one to do the same.
People are very fond of claiming to be free, and in the name of freedom they are prepared to have sex in the street. Such illusioned living entities do not know that there is no freedom at all as long as we are under the grip of material nature. One may claim to have freedom, but nature will soon contradict this claim. We are all conditioned, and we are simply thinking that we have freedom, yet this is all illusion. No one wants to die, and yet no one is free from death. No one wants to become old, yet no one is free from old age unless he dies young. No one wants to be in bondage to sexual desires, but the desires keep up, even in old age, for old men and old women try to remain young by cosmetic help. One would like to be free and to remain good-looking, but where is that freedom? Nature forces one to become old and wrinkled. So actually there is no freedom; freedom in this material world is simply false. No one wants to die, but death is certain. No one wants to become old, but old age is certain. No one wants to get sick, but disease is certain. At a higher stage, the living entity does not even want to take birth, but according to Bhagavad-gitä birth is also certain. One cannot be free to stop death or birth unless he comes to Krishna consciousness.
Every one without an exception should read or hear the issues connected with life and thereafter. To bring out a good and sensible generation, moral class lessons must be introduced at all levels. Then only we can hope to have a good society, by and large free from fear, worry, depression etc., etc. Is there any taker to fulfil my ambition. I am in my 80s.
1) Many pay for their bad deeds in bhulok before depart the body…You suffer in Bhulok and you go to Narakalok and suffer too?
2) Its a rare opprtunity to take human (the highest form to realise got) and why we take animal/tress etc. form after going thru narakalok?
Pls enlighten me. TQ
Very good it may change today’s life style.
I believe you pay for your sins on earth. When you die you are finished living that life therefore how can you go to hell to pay for your sins again. This is too far fetched to believe
Shankers Tamil movie ANNYAN is exactly based on Gauds Purana but sacrificed in the Earth itself. Great work my friend
I have ardent belief in Garuda Purana. I can sacrifice anything in life, but cannot sacrifice truth. Those who do not adhere to family responsibilities with true love and pure heart should be punished in hell.
Jai Sri Ram
You can get a detailed answer to your Qn from Ch.108 SamsaraChakram of BrahmaMahaPuranam
After the punishments in hell, the sinners are born as trees, insects, birds, animals, etc. and after lot of sufferings take birth again as human beings. But there is one thing that man carries with him – vaasana (inbuilt TRAIT). He has to change it himself thru Sathsang (contact with people of virtue), fear for and praying to god, listening to spiritual discourses and reading religious texts. Think about Ratnakaran who reformed himself as Valmiki on the advice of great Rishis. Pl. refer Brahma Maha Puranam and Bhagavd Gita 9th Ch. discourses of Swami Chinmayananda
life after death, what happens. No one is able to see that as long one is breathing. This articlepresenting 28 Narakas,
how authentic it id. OK garuda puran is well known, but the compilations there in, how much authentic they are. Given the fact that during human birth, one is not able to see them. Another thing, during ones lifetime only, one undergoes sufferings, we say it is because of Karma. Is this period not accounted for in determing specific narak for them?
This is beautiful! I’ve been looking for more reasons not to drink alcohol, and this is it!
“21) Ayahpanam (Drinking of burning substances)- Those who consume alcohol and other intoxicating drinks are sent here. The women are forced to drink melted iron in liquid form, whereas the men will be forced to drink hot liquid molten lava for every time they consume a alcoholic drink in their earthly lives.”
I also remember reading somewhere there is even a hell for those who cook animal meat, but also this post states animals being eaten after sacrifice, there is a hell for that!
Splendid, beautiful information, thank you so much!
The other hells are basically summed up by Egyptian Goddess Ma’ats law “I will not cause strife”
Thanks again! Loved the reading!
…That and the other Ma’at law “I will not mistreat animals” “I honour animals with reverence”
& “I will not abuse my sexuality”(beastiality)
Once again thank you so much for this post! Love the site!
Last post
“I will not pollute myself”
Is another law of Ma’at, so drinking intoxicating substances is a no go even in Egyptian times
Along with my wisdom that
“An Angels path produces lighter work; Sobriety”
If we have to pay for our sins in narak until the particular time period ends then why we are taking the burden of our karma of last birth with us in next birth??? The account of our sins was filled in narak i think….
Please explain me about this..
It’s difficult to explain the concept of freedom. It’s a concept because we have to think with our mind and it knows only what we put inside, how to relate with.
First of all you need long years of upanishadic study and god’s grace to know what freedom is.
Yes we age, yes we die. We are not free from time and death and yes freedom has nothing to do with time and limitation, death or life. That’s why sages say we don’t die we don’t age. The Lord say I am the killer, the sword which kills and the person killed.
freedom is another word for truth or quality of god.
Your are made of it but is is not a substance. It pervades all atoms and beings. It’s a kind of light is the best description with our limited words.
After reading & looking at this pictures of Garuda purana, any person will stop doing sin, but what is required is spreading to all. This will bring fear in the mind & people will stop doing wrong practices. Also, share the right path to walk on.
This text is very terrific. But mostly people are being punished on the earth for their sins. Then again should they have to be punished in the actual hell also for their sins? It is really bit creating doubts in my minds. Of course we have to be punished for our sins in our previous births and in our present births. Only God should judge this.