Mahājvāla

Mahājvāla · mahā-jvāla, “great flame”

Mahājvāla is one of the narakas, the places of suffering ruled by Yama into which those who do pāpa (wrong deeds) are cast after death. It is terrible with huge flames, and the doers of pāpa are burned there. One who unites with his daughter or daughter-in-law goes to it. The Brahma Purāṇa names it twice: in Lomaharshaṇa‘s list of the narakas, and in Vyāsa‘s description of the narakas and their measures.

Among the narakas ruled by Yama

Lomaharshaṇa tells the vipras of the narakas, Raurava and the rest, into which those who do pāpa are cast. He names them in order: Raurava, Śaukara, Rodha, Tāla, Viśasana, Mahājvāla, Taptakuḍya, Mahālobha, Viyocana, Rudhirāndha, Vasātapta, Kṛmīśa, Kṛmibhojana, Asipatravana, Kṛshṇa, Lālābhaksha, Pūyavaha, Vahnijvāla, Adhaśśiras, Sadaṃśa, Kṛshṇasūtra, Tamas, Āvīci, Śvabhojana, Apratishṭha and Māvīci. Mahājvāla stands sixth. There are many more narakas, supremely dreadful. All of them are domains ruled by Yama, and in them are the yama-bhaṭas, who use weapons, fire and poisons.

Then he tells which deed leads to which naraka. One who unites with his daughter or daughter-in-law goes to Mahājvāla.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 22

The naraka of great flames

The munis ask Vyāsa to tell them in full how those who do pāpa go along the southern road to Yama. When a being’s fault is established, Yama commands his kiṅkaras, and they punish each offence in the very manner that Vasishṭha and the other maharshis laid down for it. Vyāsa then tells the terrible form of the narakas and their measures. After Mahāpāyī, where liars are thrown head-down, he names Mahājvāla: it is terrible with huge flames, and the doers of pāpa are burned there. After it comes Krakaca, where those who went with women not to be approached are cut with saws sharp as the vajra.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 215

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 22, 215