LOKA

Sanskrit world in Hindu cosmography, the universe or any particular division of it. The most common division of the universe is the tri-loka, or three worlds (heaven, earth, atmosphere; later, heaven, world, nether-world). Each of the tri-lokas is again divided into seven regions, variously described and listed depending upon the source. Sometimes, instead of the tri-loka, 14 worlds are enumerated: 7 above earth and 7 below. Whatever the division, it illustrates a basic Hindu concept, that of innumerable hierarchically ordered worlds.