# Trailokya > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Trailokya > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Trailokya.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailokya > Source revision: 1356632702 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Three planes of existence in Indian religious cosmology}} {{use dmy dates|date=August 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}} [[File:1150 CE Hoysaleswara temple Halebidu Karnataka, Trivikrama Vishnu.jpg|thumb|Sculpture of Vamana, an avatar of [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu), who is associated with the legend of taking three strides upon the three worlds]] '''Trailokya''' ({{langx|sa|त्रैलोक्य}}; {{Langx|kn|ತ್ರೈಲೋಕ್ಯ}}; {{langx|pi|tiloka}}, [Tibetan](/source/Lhasa_Tibetan): khams gsum; {{lang-zh|三界}}; {{langx|vi|Tam Giới}}) literally means "three worlds".Monier-Williams (1899), p. 460, col. 1, entry for "[Tri-]loka" (retrieved at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0460-trimala.pdf) and p. 462, col. 2, entry for "Trailoya" (retrieved at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/MWScanpdf/mw0462-tripu.pdf).Rhys Davids & Stede (1921-25), p. 301, entry for "Ti-" (retrieved at [https://archive.today/20120709022256/http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?p.1:129.pali]). Here, ''tiloka'' is compared with ''tebhūmaka'' ("three planes").Fischer-Schreiber ''et al.'' (1991), p. 230, entry for "Triloka". Here, synonyms for ''triloka'' include ''trailokya'' and ''traidhātuka''. It can also refer to "three spheres," "three planes of existence," and "three realms".[Berzin](/source/Alexander_Berzin_(scholar)) (2008) renders ''khams-gsum'' (Wylie; Tibetan) and ''tridhatu'' (Sanskrit) as "three planes of existence" and states that it is "[s]ometimes called 'the three realms.'" ''Tridhatu'' is a synonym of ''triloka'' where ''dhatu'' may be rendered as "dimension" or "realm" and ''loka'' as "world" or even "planet." Various schemas of three realms (tri-[loka](/source/loka)) appear in the main [Indian religions](/source/Indian_religions) of [Hinduism](/source/Hinduism), [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism) and [Jainism](/source/Jainism). [[File:Triloka Purusha, het driedelig universum, RP-T-1993-374.jpg|thumb|left|The Triloka [Purusha](/source/Purusha), the figure who embodies the three worlds]] [[File:性命圭旨 超出三界圖.png|thumb|Transcending the Three Realms 超出三界圖, 1615 ''[Xingming guizhi](/source/Xingming_guizhi)'']] == Hindu cosmology == {{Hinduism}}{{Main articles|Hindu cosmology}} The concept of three worlds has a number of different interpretations in Hindu cosmology. * Traditionally, the three worlds refer to either the earth ([Bhuloka](/source/Bhuloka)), heaven ([Svarga](/source/Svarga)), and hell ([Naraka](/source/Naraka_(Hinduism))),{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2017-11-18 |title=Trailokya: 19 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/trailokya |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}} or the earth (Bhuloka), heaven (Svarga), and the netherworld ([Patala](/source/Patala)).{{Cite book |last=Maruvada |first=Surya N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=krvTDwAAQBAJ&dq=three+worlds+hinduism+heaven,+earth,+netherworld&pg=PT181 |title=Who is Who in Hindu Mythology - VOL 2: A Comprehensive Collection of Stories from the Pur??as |date=2020-03-02 |publisher=Notion Press |isbn=978-1-64805-686-4 |language=en}} * The [Brahmanda Purana](/source/Brahmanda_Purana) conceives them to be Bhūta (past), Bhavya (future), and Bhavat (present).{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-06-20 |title=Vaivasvata Manvantara: the Mārīca creation [Chapter 38] |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-brahmanda-purana/d/doc362856.html |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}} * In [Vaishnavism](/source/Vaishnavism), the three worlds are often described to be bhūr, bhuvaḥ, and svaḥ (the gross region, the subtle region, and the celestial region).{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2008-09-27 |title=Triloka, Tri-loka: 12 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/triloka |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}} * In the ''Nilanamatapurana'', [Vamana](/source/Vamana) covers his second step on the three worlds of Maharloka, Janaloka, and Tapaloka, all of which are regarded to be a part of the [seven heavens](/source/seven_heavens).{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Vāmana |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc242041.html |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}} == Buddhist cosmology == {{Main|Buddhist cosmology}} In [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism), the three worlds refer to the following destinations for [karmic rebirth](/source/Rebirth_(Buddhism)): * Kāma-loka (world of desire), is a plane of existence typified by base desires, populated by [hell beings](/source/Naraka_(Buddhism)), [preta](/source/preta) (hungry ghosts), animals, humans, lower demi-gods ([asuras](/source/Asura)) and gods ([devas](/source/Deva_(Buddhism))) of the desire realm heavens. * [Rūpa](/source/R%C5%ABpa)-loka (world of form), a realm predominantly free of baser desires, populated by higher level devas. It is a possible rebirth destination for those well practiced in [dhyāna](/source/Dhyana_in_Buddhism) (meditative absorption). * Arūpa-loka (the world of formlessness), a non-corporeal realm populated with four heavens. It is a possible rebirth destination for practitioners of the four formlessness stages of meditation ([arūpa-samāpatti](/source/Ar%C5%ABpajh%C4%81na)). According to [Theravada](/source/Theravada) Buddhism, these are all the realms of existence outside of [nirvana](/source/Nirvana_(Buddhism)), which transcends all three realms. According to [Mahayana](/source/Mahayana) Buddhism however, the [buddhafields](/source/Pure_land) (also known as pure lands) are lands which are beyond the three realms.Jones, Charles B. (2019). ''Chinese Pure Land Bu. ddhism, Understanding a Tradition of Practice'', p. 48University of Hawai‘i Press / Honolulu. == Jain cosmology == The early [Jains](/source/Jain) contemplated the nature of the earth and universe and developed a detailed hypothesis on the various aspects of astronomy and [cosmology](/source/Jain_cosmology). According to the Jain texts, the universe is divided into 3 parts:{{Sfn|Grimes|1996|p=177}}{{Sfn|Titze|Bruhn|1998|p=238}}{{Sfn|Wiley|2009|p=131}}{{Sfn|Raval|2016|p=81}} * ''Urdhva Loka'' – the realms of the [gods](/source/Deva_(Jainism)) or heavens * ''[Madhya Loka](/source/Madhya_Loka)'' – the realms of the [humans](/source/humans), [animals](/source/animals) and [plants](/source/plants) * ''[Adho Loka](/source/Naraka_(Jainism))'' – the [realms of the hellish beings](/source/Naraka_(Jainism)) or the infernal regions == See also == [[File:14_Rajaloka_or_Triloka,_17th_century.png|thumb|left|Fourteen Rajaloka or Triloka depicted as cosmic man. Miniature from 17th century, ''Saṁgrahaṇīratna'' by Śrīcandra, in [Prakrit](/source/Prakrit) with a Gujarati commentary. Jain [Śvetāmbara](/source/%C5%9Avet%C4%81mbara) cosmological text with commentary and illustrations.]] *[Loka](/source/Loka) *[Six Paths](/source/Six_Paths) *[Svarga](/source/Svarga) *[Trikaya](/source/Trikaya) *[Sahā](/source/Sah%C4%81) == Notes == {{reflist}} == Sources == * [Berzin, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Berzin_(scholar)) (6 March 2008). ''Berzin Archives Glossary''. Retrieved Sunday 13 July 2008 from "Berzin Archives" at http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/about/glossary/glossary_tibetan.html. * Fischer-Schreiber, Ingrid, Franz-Karl Ehrhard, Michael S. Diener and Michael H. Kohn (trans.) (1991). ''The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen''. Boston: Shambhala Publications. {{ISBN|0-87773-520-4}}. * [Monier-Williams, Monier](/source/Monier_Monier-Williams) (1899, 1964). ''A Sanskrit-English Dictionary''. London: Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0-19-864308-X}}. Retrieved 2008-07-13 from "Cologne University" at http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/MWScan/index.php?sfx=pdf. * [Rhys Davids, T.W.](/source/T.W._Rhys_Davids) & William Stede (eds.) (1921-5). ''The Pali Text Society’s Pali–English Dictionary''. Chipstead: [Pali Text Society](/source/Pali_Text_Society). Retrieved 2008-07-13 from "U. Chicago" at http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/. * [W. E. Soothill](/source/William_Edward_Soothill) & [L. Hodous](/source/Lewis_Hodous) (1937-2000). ''A Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms''. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. {{ISBN|81-208-0319-1}}. * {{Citation |last=Grimes |first=John A. |title=A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English |date=1996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qcoUFYOX0bEC |access-date=2017-09-10 |publisher=[SUNY Press](/source/SUNY_Press) |isbn=9780791430675}} * {{Citation |last1=Titze |first1=Kurt |title=Jainism: A Pictorial Guide to the Religion of Non-violence |date=1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=loQkEIf8z5wC |access-date=2017-09-10 |publisher=[Motilal Banarsidass Publication](/source/Motilal_Banarsidass) |isbn=9788120815346 |last2=Bruhn |first2=Klaus}} * {{Citation |last=Wiley |first=Kristi L. |title=The A to Z of Jainism |date=2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUz9o-EKTpwC |access-date=2017-09-10 |publisher=[Scarecrow Press](/source/Scarecrow_Press) |isbn=9780810868212}} * {{Citation |last=Raval |first=Mukundchandra G. |title=Meru: The Center of our Earth |date=2016 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgRTDAAAQBAJ |access-date=2017-09-10 |publisher=[Notion Press](/source/Notion_Press) |isbn=9781945400100}} == External links == * Bullitt, John T. (2005). ''The Thirty-one Planes of Existence''. Retrieved 2007-04-30 from "Access to Insight" at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sagga/loka.html. {{Buddhism topics}} Category:Buddhist philosophical concepts Category:Places in Hindu mythology Category:Buddhist cosmology --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Trailokya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailokya) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trailokya?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.