Rasātala or the Under‑World
Summary
In this study of Indian cosmology, the author investigates the concept of Rasātala, one of the seven subterranean realms (pātālas) mentioned in the Puranic texts. Drawing on passages from the Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa and various Puranas, the article traces how Rasātala evolved from a generic underworld inhabited by nāgas and asuras to a more specific geographical idea. The author argues that early references to Rasātala may reflect memories of Indo‑Aryan migrations through Central Asia and contact with Iranian and Hunnic tribes. By analysing the names of Rasātala’s seven subdivisions – Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala and Pātāla – the study suggests etymological connections to regions around the Oxus and Jaxartes rivers. The article also discusses mythological episodes, such as the descent of the Vāmana avatar and the subterranean travels of Garuḍa, to illustrate how cosmology encoded geographic knowledge. The narrative is accompanied by speculative maps linking Rasātala to the steppes of Central Asia.
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Conclusion
The article presents Rasātala not merely as a mythic underworld but as a symbolic representation of distant northern lands known to ancient Indians. By combining textual exegesis with historical geography, it invites readers to reconsider how cosmological concepts may preserve memories of early migrations and cross‑cultural contacts.