In Jainism, what happens after death is explained through loka (the universe) and gati (next birth/realm), not just “heaven or hell” in a simple way.

Very simply:

1. The Jain universe (Lok)

The whole universe is called Lok and has three main parts:

1. Urdhva Lok – upper world

- Here are the dev-loks (heavenly realms) and at the very top Siddha-shila (abode of liberated souls).

1. Madhya Lok – middle world

- Here are humans (manushya) and tiryanch (animals, birds, insects, plants, micro-organisms).

1. Adho Lok – lower world

- Here are the narak (hellish realms).

Every birth you take is inside this Lok only. There is no place “outside” Lok except Siddha-shila, which is still at the top of Lok but beyond rebirth.

---

2. Where does a Jain person go after death?

Jain dharma says: not “because he/she is Jain”, but according to karma. Being “Jain by label” is not enough; what matters is actual conduct, punya–paap, and inner passions.

After death, the soul takes instant rebirth (within one samaya) into one of four gatis:

1. Dev gati – in dev-lok (heavenly realms)

- Due to more punya (merit): charity, kindness, non‑violence, devotion, etc.

1. Manushya gati – human birth in madhya lok

- Due to a special mix of punya and the right karmas. - This is the best gati for dharma and moksha‑sadhana.

1. Tiryanch gati – animals, birds, insects, plants, etc. in madhya lok

- Due to delusion, strong passions, carelessness, cruelty, etc.

1. Narak gati – hell (adho lok)

- Due to very heavy paap: intense himsa, cruelty, cheating, misuse of power, etc. ( jainknowledge.com)

Which gati you get does not depend on religion-name (Jain, Hindu, Muslim, etc.), but on your karma and inner state at the time of life and death.

You can read a simple explanation of 4 gatis here

---

3. Final goal – beyond all gatis

If a soul destroys all karmas through:

• Samyak Darshan (Right Faith)
• Samyak Jnan (Right Knowledge)
• Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct)

then at death it does not go to dev, human, animal, or hell. It rises straight to Siddha-shila in Urdhva Lok, becomes a Siddha (liberated soul) and never takes birth again. ( jainknowledge.com)

---

4. In very short

• After death, a Jain person’s soul will go to dev-lok, manushya, tiryanch, or narak – all inside Lok – according to his/her karma, not just the fact of “being Jain”.
• If fully purified, the soul goes to Siddha-shila at the top of Lok and becomes liberated forever.