svarga

Svarga, in Hinduism, is a celestial realm or heaven (svarga-loka) where beings enjoy the fruits of their good karma. The term svarga comes from Sanskrit, meaning heaven or paradise, in contrast to naraka, the realm of punishment.

Svarga is one of the higher lokas in classical Hindu cosmology. It is situated above the earthly realm (Bhuloka) and is inhabited by Devas and other celestial beings. Its governance is traditionally attributed to Indra, king of the Devas, with Amaravati often described as his capital, and populated by apsaras and gandharvas who perform divine arts and songs.

Entry to Svarga is granted to those who perform virtuous acts, sacrifice, penance, or devote themselves to certain deities. The stay there is temporary; merit accrues pleasure and long life, but eventual exhaustion of merit leads to rebirth in Bhuloka or another realm depending on karma. Some traditions also describe multiple Svarga-like realms corresponding to different deities or levels of virtue.

Svarga is distinct from moksha (liberation) in Hindu thought; it represents reward and enjoyment within samsara rather than release. The concept appears in various Hindu scriptures, including the Puranas and the Mahabharata, and it has parallels in Buddhist and Jain cosmology as chains of heavens, though details vary by tradition.