Bhuvarloka
Bhuvarloka · bhuvar-loka, “the world of the atmosphere”
Bhuvarloka is one of the lokas (worlds), named in the Vāmana Purāṇa together with Bhūr, the earth, and Svar, the world of the devas. In the Vāmana Purāṇa, Bhagavān Vāmana tells Bharadvāja Maharshi that in Bhuvarloka he dwells in the form of Garuḍa. When Bhagavān Vishṇu became Trivikrama to overcome the daitya Dhundhu, his second step filled Bhuvarloka together with svarga; and at the yajña of Bali, Śukrācārya and Bali both name Bhuvarloka among the worlds that belong to Bhagavān Vishṇu or are in Bali’s gift.
Bhagavān Vishṇu as Garuḍa in Bhuvarloka
After his upanayana, Bhagavān Vāmana told Bharadvāja Maharshi that he would go to Kurukshetra, where Bali was performing the aśvamedha yajña by the power of the tejas-aṃśas, the portions of Vāmana’s own splendour. Bharadvāja asked where these portions abide, and Vāmana named the places of his forms (vibhūti-sthānas) on earth, in the lower worlds, in the upper lokas and in the seven dvīpas.
Of the upper lokas he said: in Bhuvarloka, “I am Garuḍa“; in Svarloka, “I am Vishṇu, the imperishable”; in Maharloka, “I am Agastya“; in Janaloka, “I am Kapila-deva”; in Tapoloka he abides in forms joined with all speech and truth; and in the seventh loka he is established in the form of Brahmā.
All these places, Bhagavān Vāmana said, are eternal, ancient and holy. They give dharma, they are full of tejas, they destroy pāpa, and they are always to be praised. Devas, humans and sādhyas who practise darśana (seeing), sparśana (touching), kīrtana (praising) and smaraṇa (remembering) of the devatās in these places attain all four purushārthas: dharma, artha, kāma and moksha. “This is certain.”
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 62–63
The second step of Trivikrama
Long before Bali, the daitya Dhundhu performed yajñas to win Brahmaloka. Bhagavān Vishṇu took the form of a dwarf brāhmaṇa boy and, sinking in the waters of the Devikā where Dhundhu held his yajña, was drawn out by Dhundhu and his priests; then he asked Dhundhu for three steps of ground. As soon as Dhundhu gave the gift, Bhagavān Vishṇu, whose power has no end, took the virāṭ form of the three steps. With the first step he covered the whole earth, with its oceans, mountains and towns. With the second step he filled Bhuvarloka together with svarga, the abode of the devas, and the region of the sky with the circles of the sun, moon, planets and stars.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 52
At the yajña of Bali
When Bhagavān Vishṇu set out for Bali‘s yajña, Śukrācārya counselled Bali to give him nothing, but to speak to him sweetly, in words that bind to nothing: in his belly the rulers of the Bhūr, Bhuvar and Svar lokas and the lords of Rasātala always dwell, so who can give anything to such as him? Bali would not refuse one who asked.
When Vāmana asked for three steps, Bali offered him far more: “Rasātala, this sphere of the earth, the Bhuvar and Svar lokas: ask for what you want, Vāmana! I can surely give it.” Vāmana held to his three steps.
Source: Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 64–65
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 52, 62–65