Regions of Hell are found in the Hindu cosmology and Vishnu Purana. In Vishnu Purana, the hell is classified as from the highest to the lowest version. These are Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Garbhastimat, Mahatala, Sutala and Patala. The varied regions are described below:
Seven Worlds
All seven upper worlds and seven lower worlds are known to be resting on the thousand heads of the great serpent Sesha; or the earth. The earth is said to be the lowest of the seven upper worlds and is supported at the quarters and in-between quarters of the sky by eight male and eight female mythological elephants. Here again the earth is thought to be made up of seven great circular islands namely Jambu, Kusa, Salmali, Plakslta, and such other names of trees. The earth is comprised of seven seas, as described in the Mahabharata Chapter: VI.236 and Vishnu Purana II.2.
The seven worlds that lie immediately below the earth are not known as places of punishment at all. According to Vishnu Purana chapter II.5, they are the regions decorated with beautiful palaces, groves and streams. The scenic beauty is ethereal, when the sun diffuses light but there is no heat and the moon shines for illumination, not to emit cold. This region is enveloped by air that resounds with the chirping of birds, where all tasty foods, beverages are available at hand for those who wish to enjoy.
Daityas and Danavas
The demoniac creatures like Daityas and Danavas populate all the seven lower regions and especially the one Patala. Daityas are the children of the Goddess Diti, wife of Kashyap and lay in the opposition to the Gods; they were the children of Aditi, another wife of Kashyap. Danavas on the other hand are the daughters of Danu. These two classes of demons occupy some of the lower seven regions of which Patala is one. One of the higher order of creation than the Rakshasas appears in the Patala. The nature of Rakshasas is of the wicked character and malignity is more particularly aimed against the community of men.
Nagas
Daityas and Danavas are not always wicked and are in certain respects superior to men and remarkably by a race of half men and half serpents, called Nagas. These serpent demons often have jewels on their heads; however that is according to their status in the race. They have originated from Kadru, wife of Kashyap and some of the females or Naga Kanyas are even known as to have married human heroes as has been showed in some Hindi films. Three chief serpents are the Vasuki, Sesha, and Takshaka. They rule over these serpent demons and also over the other ordinary snakes those living on the earth.
Twenty-One Hells
Twenty-one hells are believed to exist below the seven lower worlds. Vishnu Purana and the Bhagvat say the number to be twenty-eight. The hells are the action ground of punishment and suffering on the sinful persons after their death. They are merely provisional purgatories planned for the purpose of purifying those who have moved on the path of wicked lives.
The description of hells is different from one from the other. Some hells are considered to be of complete darkness, while the others are dense forests. Some hells may also have huge heated caldrons called the Tapata Kumbha.
Alike, the Roman Catholic fourth dungeon features boiling kettles. In some other hells the floors are covered with red-hot charcoal or blood, the leaves of trees resemble sharp swords, another kind of hell may be a sea of rotten mud and yet another one may be a plain paved path with iron spikes.
