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Punishments in the Various Hells

Artist/maker unknown

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Like the heavens, there are a number of hells in the Jain universe. They are arranged in a hierarchy from the highest "jewel hell," located just under the earth, to the lowest "thick darkness hell." In these hells, souls (jivas) work off some of the evil results of their deeds (karma). Depending on their karma, they stay in each hell for a specific time to undergo tortures. This page shows the variety of tortures available: skewering, being thrust down in a large jar and eaten by animals, burning, and fighting (pain inflicted by and on other hell dwellers).

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