← The Secret Doctrine, Vol. 3 of 4 / The Synthesis of Science, Religion, and Philosophy
Chapter 62
Lokas
1. The general exoteric, orthodox and tântric category:
Bhûr-loka.
Bhuvar-loka.
Swar-loka.
Mahar-loka. The second seven are reflected.
Janar-loka.
Tapar-loka.
Satya-loka.
2. The Sânkhya category, and that of some Vedântins
Brahmâ-loka.
Pitri-loka.
Soma-loka.
Indra-loka.
Gandharva-loka.
Râkshasa-loka
Yaksha-loka.
And an eighth.
3. The Vedântic, the nearest approach to the Esoteric:
Atala.
Vitala.
Sutala.
Talâtala (or Karatala).
Rasâtala.
Mahâtala.
Pâtâla.
Each and all correspond Esoterically to the Kosmic or Dhyân Chohanic Hierarchies, and to the human States of Consciousness and their subdivisions (forty-nine). To appreciate this the meanings of the terms used in the Vedântic classification must be first understood.
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Tala means place.
Atala means no place.
Vitala means some change for the better: i.e., better for matter in that more matter enters into it, or, in other words, it becomes more differentiated. This is an ancient Occult term.
Sutala means good, excellent, place.
Karatala means something that can be grasped or touched (from kara, a hand): i.e., the state in which matter becomes tangible.
Rasâtala means place of taste; a place you can sense with one of the organs of sense.
Mahâtala means exoterically “great place”; but, Esoterically, a place including all others subjectively, and potentially including all that precedes it.
Pâtâla means something under the feet (from pada, foot), the upâdhi, or basis, of anything, the antipodes, America, etc.
Each of the Lokas, places, worlds, states, etc., corresponds with and is transformed into five (exoterically) and seven (Esoterically) states or Tattvas, for which there are no definite names. These in the main divisions cited below make up the forty-nine Fires:
5 and 7 Tanmâtras, outer and inner senses.
5 and 7 Bhûtas, or elements.
5 and 7 Gnyânendryas, or organs of sensation.
5 and 7 Karmendryas, or organs of action.
These correspond in general to States of Consciousness, to the Hierarchies of Dhyân Chohans, to the Tattvas, etc. These Tattvas transform themselves into the whole Universe. The fourteen Lokas are made of seven with seven reflections: above, below; within, without; subjective, objective; pure, impure; positive, negative; etc.