Kākola (Naraka)
Kākola, “the raven”
Kākola is one of the narakas, the places of suffering ruled by Yama into which those who do pāpa (wrong deeds) are cast after death. The Brahma Purāṇa describes it as a naraka made of worms and filth. One who ate fine food alone, without sharing it with others, falls there.
In Vyāsa’s account of the narakas
The munis ask Vyāsa to tell them in full how those who do pāpa (wrong deeds) go along the southern road, the dakshiṇa-mārga. Vyāsa tells them of that dreadful road to Yama’s city, of Yama’s court, where the pāpīs see Yama and Citragupta, and of the Yama-kiṅkaras, Yama’s servants, who punish each offence in the very manner that Vasishṭha and the other maharshis laid down for it. Then he says: “Hear the terrible form of the narakas and their measures,” and names them one by one, with the deed that leads to each.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 215
The naraka and who falls there
Kākola is made of worms and filth. One who ate mṛshṭānna (fine, rich food) alone falls there.
Vyāsa names it after Karambhavālukā, the well-shaped naraka of embers, thorns and sand, and before Kuḍmala, the naraka of filth and blood for those who abandoned the five daily yajñas.
Vyāsa ends the account of the narakas with these words: those who turned away from dharma in mind, speech, body and deed must suffer sorrows in the very dreadful torments of Yama-loka for thousands, lakhs and crores of years.
Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 215
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 215