Swar-loka or heaven as is generally understood is one of the seven lokas or planes in Hindu cosmology. In the Puranas, it is stated that Swar-loka is the celestial plane or Heaven or Praradise. Swar-Loka is the planetary sphere, extending from the sun to Dhruva.
Myths of Swar-Loka
As per Hindu mythology, there are seven higher worlds and seven lower ones. The higher worlds are the Seven Spheres "vyahrtis" or "lokas", namely "bhuvar", "deva", "mahar", "jana", "Indra", "rudra" and "marut" and the lower ones (the "seven underworlds" or paatala lokas) are "atala", "vitala", "sutala", "rasaataala", "talatala", "mahaatala", "paatala".
Swar-Loka is a set of heavenly world situated on and above the Mt. Meru where the virtuous live in paradise before their next living form. During each "pralaya" (the great dissolution), the first three kingdoms, "Bhu loka" (Earth), "Bhuvar loka" and "Swar-Loka" are destroyed. The capital of Swar-Loka is Amaravati and its entrance is guarded by Airavata. Swar-Loka is presided over by Lord Indra, the leader of devatas. Swar-Loka is seen as a temporary place for righteous souls who have performed good deeds in their lives but are not yet ready to attain "moksha" or salvation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
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