Word

Patala

Sanskrit

पाताल

IAST

pātāla

In General

Patala is the last of the seven regions of Mid-world (Bhuvah) which exists between Earth and Swarga. The other regions of Mid-world are Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Rasatala and Mahatala. Patala is not Hell or a place for punishment

Veda

A mid world called Bhuvah is said in Veda. But the word Patala is not there.

Purana

Patala is the abode of Nagas. The Chiefs of the serpent world like Vasuki, Sankha, Gulika, Sveta, Dhananjaya, Mahasikha, Dhrtarastra, Sankhacuda, Kambala, Asvadhara and Devadatta live here.

At the base of this Patala-world, there is a place separated from the rest, thirty thousand yojanas in area. It is here that the tamasic Visnukala resides under the name Ananta or Adisesa.

The daughters of the serpent kings are all beautiful damsels with fair, spotless and lustrous bodies. They smear their bodies with fragrant pastes made from Aloe, Sandal and Saffron.