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Niraya (Sutta)

Niraya.– Various lists of hells (niraya) are found in the books. In the Jātaka Commentary ¹ occurs the following: Sañjīva, Kālasutta, Saṅghāta, Jālaroruva, Dhūmaroruva, Mahāvīci, Tapana, Patāpana.

The Saṃyutta and Aṅguttaranikāya and the Suttanipāta contain a different list: Abbuda, Nirabbuda, Ababa, Atata, Ahaha, Kumuda, Sogandhika, Uppala, Puṇḍarīka, Paduma (S.i.149; A.v.173; SN.p.126; see also Dvy. 67).

The Commentaries explain (e.g., AA.ii.853) that these are not separate hells but specified periods of suffering in Avīci. The Devadūta Sutta (M.iii.185) of the Majjhimanikāya contains yet another list: Gūtha, Kukkula, Simbalivana, Asipattavana and Khārodakanadī.

Other names, also, occur sporadically, e.g., Khuradhāra (J.v.269), Kākola (J.vi.247), Sataporisa (J.v.269) and Sattisūla (J.v.143). The most fearful of the hells is, however, the Avīci-mahā-niraya (see s.v. Avīci).

¹ J.v.266, 271; the same list is found in Dvy.67, except that Raurava is substituted for Jalaroruva and Mahāraurava for Dhūmaroruva.

Niraya Vagga.– The twenty-second chapter of the Dhammapada.

1. Niraya Sutta.– Five things that lead to hell: destroying life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, falsehood, taking intoxicants. A.iii.170; also 204.

2. Niraya Sutta.– Six things that lead to hell: (A.iii.432)

1. destroying life,
2. taking what is not given,
3. sexual misconduct,
4. falsehood,
5. evil desires and
6. wrong views.