Tapoloka
Tapoloka · tapo-loka, “the world of tapas”
Atirātra has other meanings too: see all meanings of Atirātra.
Tapoloka is the third of the four lokas (worlds) that rise above the three worlds of Bhūloka, Bhuvarloka and Svargaloka: Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka. The Agni Purāṇa, taught by Agni Deva to Vasishṭha Maharshi, places it eight crore yojanas beyond Janaloka, and says that the devas called Vairājas live there. Beyond it, ninety-six crore yojanas higher, is Satyaloka, the world of Brahmā. In pūjā, Tapoloka is honoured with the other higher lokas on the twenty-four-petalled lotus of the Bhadra maṇḍala.
Where Tapoloka lies
Agni Deva, telling Vasishṭha Maharshi of the bhuvanakośa (the treasury of the worlds), gives the distances of the worlds above the earth. The sun is one lakh yojanas from the earth, and the moon one lakh yojanas beyond the sun. Beyond them, in order, come the circle of the nakshatras, Budha, Śukra, Kuja, Guru and Śani, the circle of the Saptarshis, and Dhruva, which marks the height of the three lokas. Beyond Dhruva:
- Maharloka is one crore yojanas beyond Dhruva. Bhṛgu and others, who live till the end of the kalpa, dwell there.
- Janaloka is two crore yojanas beyond Maharloka. The siddha-purushas Sanaka, Sanandana and others live there.
- Tapoloka is eight crore yojanas beyond Janaloka. The devas called Vairājas live there.
- Satyaloka is ninety-six crore yojanas beyond Tapoloka. Deathless puṇyātmās, devas and ṛshis live there; it is also called Brahmaloka.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 120
On the lotus of the maṇḍala
Nārada, teaching the rite of the Bhadra maṇḍala, names what is honoured on the twenty-four-petalled lotus of its third enclosure, in order: Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka; the seven soma yajñas Agnishṭoma, Atyagnishṭoma, Uktha, Shoḍaśī, Vājapeya, Atirātra and Aptoryāma; the individual mind, intellect and ego-sense; sound, touch, form, taste and smell; the jīva; the collective mind, the collective intellect (the mahat-tattva) and the collective ego-sense; and Prakṛti. The form of all these is sound alone: it is enough to say their names and bow, with no need to meditate on their mūrtis.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 30
Sources
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 30, 120