Sinners are sent to various Narakas (Hells) by Yamaraja according to the nature and

seriousness of their sins. According to the Garuda Purana there are a total of 28
Narakas. They are as follows.
(1) Tamisram (Heavy flogging) -Those who rob others of their wealth are bound with
ropes by Yamas Servants and cast into the Naraka known as Tamisram. There, they
are given a thrashing until they bleed and faint. When they recover their senses, the
beating is repeated. This is done until their time is up.
(2) Andhatamtrsam (Flogging) -This Hell is reserved for the Husband or the Wife
who only treat their spouses well when they are to profit or pleasure to them. Those
who forsake their wives and husbands for no apparent reasons are also sent here. The
punishment is almost the same as Tamisram, but the excruciating pain, suffered by
the victims on being tied fast, makes them fall down senseless.
(3) Rauravam (torment of snakes) This is the hell for sinners who seize and enjoy
another mans property or resources. When these people are thrown into this hell,
those whom they have cheated, assume the the shape of Ruru, a dreadful serpent.
The serpent(s) will torment them severely until their time is up.
(4) Mahararuravam (death by snakes) Here there is also Ruru serpents but more
fiercer. Those who deny the legitimate heirs, their inheritance and possess and enjoy
others property will be squeezed and bitten non stop by this terrible serpents coiling
around them. Those who steal another mans wife or lover will also be thrown here.
(5) Kumbhipakam (cooked by oil) This is the hell for those who kill animals for
pleasure. Here oil is kept boiled in huge vessels and sinners are plunged in this
vessels.
(6) Kalasutram (Hot as hell) This hell is terribly hot. Those who dont respect their
elders esp. when their elders have done their duties are sent here. Here they are made
to run around in this unbearable heat and drop down exhausted from time to time.
(7) Asitapatram (sharp flogging) This is the hell in which sinners abandon ones
own duty. They are flogged by Yamas Servants with whips made of asipatra (sharpedged sword-shaped leaves). If they run about under the flogging, they will trip over
the stones and thorns, to fall on their faces. Then they are stabbed with knives until
they drop unconscious, When they recover, the same process is repeated until their
time is up in this Naraka.
(8)Sukaramukham (Crushed and tormented) Rulers who neglect their duties and
oppress their subjects by misrule, are punished in this hell. They are crushed to a pulp
by heavy beating.When they recover, it is repeated until their time is up.
(9) Andhakupam (Attack of the animals) This is hell for those who oppress the
good people and not helping them if requested despite having the resources. They
will be pushed into a well, where beasts like Lions, tigers, eagles and venomous
creatures like snakes and scorpions. The sinners have to endure the constant attacks
of this creatures until the expiry of the period of their punishment.

(10) Taptamurti (Burnt Alive) Those who plunder or steal Gold and jewels are cast
into the furnaces of this Naraka which always remains hot in blazing fire.
(11) Krimibhojanam (Food for worms) Those who do not honour their Guests and
make use of men or women only for their own gain, are thrown into this Naraka.
Worms, insects and serpents eat them alive. Once their bodies are completely eaten
up, the sinners are provided with new bodies, which are also eaten up in the above
manner. This continues, till the end of their term of punishment.
(12) Salmali (Embracing hot images) -This Naraka is intended for men and women
who have committed adultery. A figure made of iron, heated red-hot is placed there.
The sinner is forced to embrace it, while Yamas servants flog the victim behind.
(13) Vajrakantakasali (Embracing sharp images) This Naraka is the punishment for
Sinners who have unnatural intercourse with animals. Here, they are made to
embrace iron images full of sharp diamond needles that pierce through their bodies.
(14) Vaitarani (River of Filth) Rulers who abuse their power and adulterers are
thrown here. It is the most terrible place of punishment. It is a river which is filled
with human excreta, blood, hair, bones, nails, flesh and all kinds of dirty substances.
There are various kinds of terrible beasts as well. Those who are cast into it are
attacked and mauled by these creatures from all sides. The sinners have to spend the
term of their punishment, feeding upon the contents of this river.
(15) Puyodakam (Well of hell) This is a well filled with excreta, urine, blood,
phlegm. Men who have intercourse and cheat women with no intention of marrying
them are considered like animals. Those who wander about irresponsibly like animals
are thrown in this well to get polluted by its contents. They are to remain here till
their time is up.
(16) Pranarodham (Piece by Piece) This Naraka is for those who keep dogs and
other mean animals and constantly hunt and kill animals for food. Here the servants
of Yama, gather around the sinners and cut them limb to limb while subjecting them
to constant insult.
(17) Visasanam (Bashing from Clubs) This Naraka is for the torture of those rich
people who look down at the poor and spend excessively just to display their wealth
and splendour. They have to remain here at the whole term of their punishment where
they will be bashed non stop from heavy clubs from Yamas Servants.
(18) Lalabhaksam (River of semen) This is the Naraka for lustful men. The
lascivious fellow who makes his wife swallow his semen, is cast into this hell.
Lalabhaksam is a sea of semen. The sinner lies in it, feeding upon semen alone until
his period of punishment.
(19) Sarameyasanam (Torment from dogs) Those guilty of unsocial acts like
poisoning food, mass slaughter, ruining the country are cast into this hell. There is
nothing but the flesh of dogs for food. There are thousands of dogs in this Naraka and
they attack the sinners and tear their flesh from their bodies with their teeth.
(20) Avici (turned into dust) This Naraka is for those who are guilty for false

witness and false swearing. There are hurled from a great height and they are utterly
smashed into dust when they reached the ground. They are again restored to life and
the punishment is repeated till the end of their time.
(21) Ayahpanam (Drinking of burning substances)- Those who consume alcohol and
other intoxicating drinks are sent here. The women are forced to drink melted iron in
liquid form, whereas the men will be forced to drink hot liquid molten lava for every
time they consume a alcoholic drink in their earthly lives.
(22) Raksobjaksam (Revenge attacks)- Those who do animal and human sacrifices
and eat the flesh after the sacrifice will be thrown in this hell. All the living beings
they killed before would be there and they will join together to attacking, biting, and
mauling the sinners. Their cries and complaints would be no avail here.
(23) Sulaprotam (Trident Torture)- People who take the lives of others who have done
no harm to them and those who deceives others by treachery are sent to this
Sulaportam hell. Here they are impaled on a trident and they are forced to spend
their whole term of their punishment in that position, suffering intense hunger and
thirst, as well as enduring all the tortures inflicted on them.
(24) Ksharakardamam (hanged upside down) -Braggarts and those who insult good
people are cast into this hell. Yamas servants keep the sinners upside down and
torture them in many ways.
(25) Dandasukam (eaten alive)- Sinners who persecute others like animals will be
sent here. There are many beasts here. They will be eaten alive by this beasts.
(26) Vatarodham (weapon torture)- This hell is for those who persecute animals
which live in forrests, mountain peaks and trees. After throwing them in this hell,
sinners are tortured with fire, poison and various weapons during their time here in
this Naraka.
(27) Paryavartanakam (torture from birds)- One who denies food to a hungry person
and abuses him is thrown here. The moment the sinner arrives here ,his eyes are put
by being pierced the beaks of birds like the crows and eagles. They will be pierced
later on by this birds till the end of their punishment.
(28) Sucimukham (Tortured by needles)- Proud and Miserly people who refuse to
spend money even for the basic necessities of life, like better food or buying food for
their relations or friends will find their place in this hell. Those who do not repay the
money they have borrowed will also be cast into this hell. Here, their bodies will be
constantly be pricked and pierced by needles.