If we take the Vedas as our reference point to study the evolution of the Hindu concept of heaven and hell, we find that although the first book of the Rig Veda refers to 'heaven', it is only in the last book that the term gets some import. While Book I of the Rig Veda in a hymn mentions: "...pious sacrificers enjoy residence in the heaven of Indra…", Book VI in a special invocation to the fire God appeals to "lead men to heaven".

Even the last book does not refer to 'heaven' as an auspicious afterlife destination. The idea of reincarnation and the concept of attaining heaven became popular in the Hindu canon with the passage of time.

Where is Heaven?

Vedic people were not quite sure about the site or setting of this heaven or who ruled the region. But by common consensus it was situated somewhere up there, and it was Indra who reigned in heaven and Yama who ruled the hell.

How's Heaven Like?

In the mythical tale of Mudgala and Rishi Durvasa, we have a detailed description of the heavens (Sanskrit "swarga"), the nature of its inhabitants, and its advantages and disadvantages. While the two were in a conversation about virtues and heaven, a celestial messenger appears in his heavenly vehicle to take Mudgala to his heavenly abode. In reply to his inquiry, the messenger gives an explicit account of heaven. Here's an excerpt from this scriptural description as paraphrased by Swami Shivananada of Rishikesh:

"…The heaven is well provided with excellent paths…The Siddhas, the Vaiswas, the Gandharvas, the Apsaras, the Yamas and the Dhamas dwell there.

There are many celestial gardens. Here sport persons of meritorious acts. Neither hunger nor thirst, nor heat, nor cold, neither grief nor fatigue, neither labor nor repentance, nor fear, nor anything that is disgusting and inauspicious; none of these is to be found in heaven. There is no old age either…Delightful fragrance is found everywhere. The breeze is gentle and pleasant. The inhabitants have resplendent bodies. Delightful sounds captivate both the ear and the mind. These worlds are obtained by meritorious acts and not by birth nor by the merits of fathers and mothers…There is neither sweat nor stench, nor excretion nor urine. The dust does not soil one's clothes. There is no uncleanliness of any kind. Garlands (made from flowers) do not fade. Excellent garments full of celestial fragrance never fade. There are countless celestial cars that move in the air. The dwellers are free from envy, grief, ignorance and malice. They live very happily…"

Disadvantages of Heaven

After the bliss of heaven, the celestial messenger tells us about its disadvantages: "In the celestial region, a person, while enjoying the fruits of acts he had already performed, cannot perform any other new act. He must enjoy the fruits of the former life till they are completely exhausted. Further, he is liable to fail after he has completely exhausted his merit. These are the disadvantages of heaven. The consciousness of those about to fall is stupefied. It is also agitated by emotions. As the garlands of those about to fall fade away, fear possesses their hearts…"

Description of Hell

In The Mahabharata, Vrihaspati's account of "the frightful regions of Yama" has a good description of hell. He tells king Yudhishthira: "In those regions, O king, there are places that are fraught with every merit and that are worthy on that account of being the abodes of the very deities. There are, again, places in those regions that are worse than those which are inhabited by animals and birds…"

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