Pātāla
/ˈpɑː.t̪ɑː.lə/noun
In Hindu cosmology, Pātāla is a subterranean realm or group of netherworlds inhabited by nāgas, asuras, and other beings.
Did you know?Unlike the Western idea of hell, Pātāla is not simply a place of eternal punishment; some Hindu texts portray it as extraordinarily beautiful, wealthy, and pleasurable.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European (proposed)
PIE
*pet-
“To rush, fly, or fall; this root is sometimes connected with Sanskrit pat-, “to fall,” though the derivation of Pātāla itself remains debated.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
pat-
“To fall, fly, or descend; the verbal root traditionally associated with the name.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Pātāla
“A subterranean region or netherworld; later, one of several underground realms.”
Early Hindu Purāṇic literature
Sanskrit
Pātāla-loka
“The world or domain beneath the earthly realm, associated with nāgas, demons, riches, and supernatural power.”
19th Century
English
Patala / Pātāla
“A transliterated term used by English-language writers discussing Hindu cosmology and mythology.”
Modern English
English
Pātāla
“The Hindu mythological underworld or subterranean realm.”