Answer

In Jain Dharma, the universe is called Lokākāśa or Lok. It is divided into 14 Rajlok, meaning 14 major levels or regions of the inhabited universe where living beings exist.

These 14 Rajlok are grouped into three main parts:

• Adholok – Lower world
• Madhyalok – Middle world
• Urdhvalok – Upper world

Names of the 14 Rajlok and Living Beings Found There

1. Seven Narak Lok – Lower Worlds

These are the seven hellish regions where Nārakī jīvas live.

• 1st Narak – Ratna-prabhā
• 2nd Narak – Śarkarā-prabhā
• 3rd Narak – Vāluka-prabhā
• 4th Narak – Paṅka-prabhā
• 5th Narak – Dhūma-prabhā
• 6th Narak – Tamaḥ-prabhā
• 7th Narak – Mahātamaḥ-prabhā

Living beings found there:

• Nārakī jīvas, meaning hellish beings
• They experience intense suffering due to their own sinful karma

2. Madhyalok – Middle World

This is the middle region where humans, animals, plants, and many other worldly beings are found.

• 8th Rajlok – Madhyalok

Living beings found there:

• Manushya – human beings
• Tiryanch – animals, birds, insects, plants, water-bodied beings, fire-bodied beings, air-bodied beings, earth-bodied beings, etc.
• Some types of Vyantar devas and Bhavanpati devas

Madhyalok is spiritually very important because only here can a soul attain right faith, right knowledge, right conduct, and ultimately liberation through the path of Dharma.

3. Six Devalok – Upper Worlds

Above Madhyalok are heavenly regions where Devas, or celestial beings, live.

• 9th Rajlok – Saudharma Devalok
• 10th Rajlok – Īśāna Devalok
• 11th Rajlok – Sanatkumāra Devalok
• 12th Rajlok – Māhendra Devalok
• 13th Rajlok – Brahma Devalok
• 14th Rajlok – Lāntaka Devalok

Living beings found there:

• Vaimānika devas, meaning heavenly celestial beings
• They enjoy great pleasure due to past meritorious karma

Important Clarification

In Jain cosmology, the upper world also includes higher heavenly realms beyond these six Devalok, such as:

• Mahāśukra
• Sahasrāra
• Ānata
• Prāṇata
• Āraṇa
• Acyuta
• Nava Graiveyaka
• Nava Anudiśa
• Pañcha Anuttara Vimāna

Above all heavenly regions is Siddhaśilā, where liberated souls, called Siddhas, reside forever. Siddhas are not worldly living beings; they are completely liberated from birth and death.

Spiritual Understanding

The teaching of 14 Rajlok helps us understand that souls wander through many states of existence according to their karma:

• Bad karma can lead to suffering states like Narak
• Good karma can lead to heavenly birth
• Mixed karma can lead to human or tiryanch birth
• Only liberation ends the cycle of birth and death

Takeaway

The 14 Rajlok describe the structure of the worldly universe in Jain Dharma. Living beings are born in different regions according to their karma, but Jain Dharma teaches that the highest goal is not heaven, but Moksha — complete liberation from all karma.