Indraloka (Amarāvatī)
Indraloka is the world of Indra, the king of the devas and the guardian of the eastern direction. It is also called Amarāvatī, the city of the immortals, and Svarga. It is the highest of the svarga-lokas (worlds of heaven) that one can reach through puṇya (merit). The Mahābhārata describes it as a city of unmatched splendour. In the Vana Parva Arjuna went there in the chariot of Mātali, after he had received divine weapons on the Himālaya. He stayed five years. He received the weapons of Indra, learned the arts of the devas, and finished the destruction of the Nivātakavaca dānavas.
Nature and description
Amarāvatī means “the city of the immortals” (a-mara, not dying; vatī, having or dwelling in). It lies in the highest regions of the atmosphere and beyond.
The Mahābhārata says that Amarāvatī shines with a light of its own. It is not sunlight or moonlight. It is the tapas-tejas (the radiance of austerity) of all the devas and ṛshis who gather there. It is a city of lasting youth and beauty, free from the sorrow, sickness and death of the mortal world.
Nandanavana, Indra’s garden of the devas, lies within or near Amarāvatī. Its trees are always in flower. Divine scents fill the air, streams of divine water flow, and the most beautiful beings of the world of the devas live there in constant joy.
Arjuna’s journey and stay
Mātali came to the Himālaya peak with the divine chariot of Indra. Its flag bore the vaijayantī sign, and the great Hari horses drew it. Arjuna climbed in and rose to Svarga. As he went up through the sky he saw the tārā-rūpa beings, the shining forms of the righteous, in the middle regions. He passed Airāvata, the great elephant, at the gate of Amarāvatī and entered the city.
He was received with great honour in Indrasabhā, the great assembly hall of Indra. Indra seated Arjuna beside him on half of the divine throne. The ṛshi Lomaśa was amazed at this sight when he came there later.
During his five years in Indraloka:
- He learned gāndharva music and dance from Citrasena.
- Ūrvaśī came to him, and she laid a śāpa (curse) on him. Indra showed that this śāpa was a vara (boon) for the year of ajñātavāsa (living unknown).
- He went down to Pātāla with Mātali and destroyed the Nivātakavaca dānavas.
- He received more divine weapons from Indra.
Svarga is a dwelling for a time
The Mahābhārata makes a clear difference between Indraloka and moksha (liberation). Svarga is a dwelling for a time. The being enjoys it as long as the puṇya lasts, and then returns to earth.
The account of Mudgala in the Vana Parva makes this point. A messenger of the devas came to take the ṛshi Mudgala to Svarga. Mudgala thought it over carefully and chose not to go. He saw that Svarga, however lovely, is not the final goal of the wise.
Arjuna was in Svarga not through puṇya gathered in the ordinary way. He was there by Indra’s own invitation and for a particular divine purpose. He came back to earth as was ordained.
Indrasabhā
Indra’s assembly is one of the five assemblies of the devas that Nārada described to Yudhishṭhira in the Sabhā Parva. It is filled with devas, gandharvas, apsarās, ṛshis and righteous men who have earned a place there. It blazes with divine light. Music, dance, talk on deep questions and the pūjā of Indra all take place in it.
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapters 42–50
- Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, the account of Mudgala
- Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Nārada’s description of the five assemblies to Yudhishṭhira