According to Hinduism Naraka is a place of suffering, or Hell. Naraka is the Sanskrit word for the underworld; literally, of man. Naraka is a Sanskrit word which means underworld.
In Hinduism Naraka or Neraka is compared to the Abrahamic concept of Hell. It is mentioned especially in dharmasastras, itihasas and
Puranas. Naraka is also mentioned in Vedic Sanhita, Aranyaka and
Upanishads.
In the Upanishads it is said that Naraka is `darkness` instead of hell. A summary of Upanishads and
Bhagavata Gita mentions hell several times. Adi Sankara declared Naraka on Vedanta sutra. Still, some people like members of Arya Samaj do not accept its existence or consider it metaphorical.
In the Puranas like
Bhagavata Purana, Garuda Purana and Vishnu Purana describes the detail descriptions of many hells. Narakas are situated above Garbhodaka Ocean
It is believed that
Yama, Lord of Justice, puts human beings after death for appropriate punishment like in boiling oil. Even Muktiyogyas where the souls are eligible for mukti or moksha or liberation and Nitya-samsarins are forever transmigrating ones in Dvaita theology can experience Naraka for expiation. After the completion of the punishment period, they are reborn on earth in human or animal bodies. Hence neither Naraka is a place of permanent abodes.
At the time of death, sinful souls are exposed for capture by Yamadutas, servants of
Yama who comes personally only in special cases. Yama gave ordered to his servants to leave Vaishnavas alone. The power of Vaishnavas is urdhva pundra tilaka, which are the Tiruman, and Sri Choornam for Sri Vaishnavas or Gopi Chandan for Gaudiya Vaishnavas, tapa samskara is shoulders branded with Sankha and Chakra, and Tulsi mala or the necklace/garland made of Tulsi beads. Sri Vaishnavas are taken by Vishnudutas to Vaikuntha and Gaudiya Vaishnavas to Goloka.
