Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2087

c8.2087

PĀṬALA. The last of the seven regions or worlds under the earth said to be peopled by Nāgas. The seven regions one below the other are (1) Atala (2) Vitala (3) Sutala (4) Talātala (5) Rasātala (6) Mahātala and (7) Pātāla. In all these regions there are beautiful cities and buildings built by Maya, the great architect. The daityas, dānavas and nāgas live in these regions. Pātāla is seventy thousand yojanas high each division being ten thousand yojanas. The earth in these regions is of different hue like white, black, red and yellow. It is filled with rubbles, black granite and gold. Once Nārada on his return to Svarga from Pātāla said that Pātāla was more beautiful than Svarga. The ornaments worn by nāgas are profusely studded with shining diamonds. Daytime is lighted by the Sun and the night by the Moon. There is neither heat nor cold there and the happy nāgas living contentedly do not feel the passage of time.