According to the Vishnu Purana, there are 14 worlds or realms known as "lokas" or "bhuvanas." These are divided into seven upper worlds, called "Urdhva Lokas," and seven lower worlds, called "Adho Lokas." The seven Urdhva Lokas are described as follows:
1. **Bhuloka**: This is the world where humans can travel using their feet, ships, boats, etc. Essentially, the entire Earth falls under Bhuloka.
2. **Bhuvarloka**: The space from Earth up to the Sun is referred to as Bhuvarloka. It is inhabited by celestial beings.
3. **Swarloka**: The region from the Sun to the North Star is known as Swarloka. This is where gods like Indra and other celestial beings reside.
These three realms together are called "Triloka" or "Tribhuvan," and the dominion of gods like Indra is confined to these realms.
4. **Maharloka**: This realm is located ten million yojanas (an ancient measure of distance) above the Dhruva (North Star). It is inhabited by sages like Bhrigu.
5. **Janaloka**: Positioned twenty million yojanas above Maharloka, Janaloka is the abode of sages such as Sanaka and other Rishis.
6. **Tapaloka**: Eighty million yojanas above Janaloka, Tapaloka is the realm of deities known as the Vairajas.
7. **Satyaloka**: Also called Brahmaloka, it is located 120 million yojanas above Tapaloka and is the abode of Brahma. The highest-ranking sages and ascetics reside here.
According to the Vishnu Purana, the lower three realms are not as permanent as the upper ones and are destroyed during the cosmic dissolution (Pralaya). The upper three realms remain unaffected, which is why Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, and Swarloka are called "Kritaka Lokas" (created worlds), while Janaloka, Tapaloka, and Satyaloka are referred to as "Akritaka Lokas" (uncreated worlds). Maharloka is not destroyed during Pralaya but becomes uninhabitable, causing its residents to move to Janaloka. Hence, Maharloka is described as "Kritakakritaka" (both created and uncreated).
Similarly, there are seven Adho Lokas or lower worlds, known as Patalas. These seven Patalas are:
1. **Atala**: Located ten thousand yojanas below the Earth, its soil is white.
2. **Vitala**: Situated ten thousand yojanas below Atala, its soil is black.
3. **Nitala**: Ten thousand yojanas below Vitala, its soil is red like the early morning sun.
4. **Gabhastiman**: Another ten thousand yojanas below Nitala, its soil is yellow.
5. **Mahitala**: Located ten thousand yojanas below Gabhastiman, its soil is gravelly.
6. **Sutala**: Ten thousand yojanas below Gabhastiman, its soil is rocky.
7. **Patala**: The deepest, ten thousand yojanas below Sutala, with golden soil.
These seven lower worlds are inhabited by demons, giants, and serpents.
Ultimately, every world is considered to be under the dominion of the divine (a belief shared by theists). However, just as different regions in our world have different governments and rulers, so do these worlds. The description of the Patalas suggests that they have many cities inhabited by demons, giants, and serpents. Similarly, in heaven, there are cities ruled by deities like Indra, Varuna, and Chandra. The residents of the upper worlds, Maharloka, Janaloka, Tapaloka, and Satyaloka, are so advanced that there is no need for any governance.
