The concept of heaven, with its many levels and dwelling places, has fascinated humanity for millennia. Nearly every major religion describes some kind of transcendent realm where righteous souls go after death. But the specifics about how many levels exist in heaven and what each level contains have been debated by theologians and philosophers for ages.
In this article, we will examine what various faith traditions and spiritual texts say about the structure and stratification of heaven. We will look at Christian, Islamic, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist cosmologies to piece together an overview of beliefs about the many mansions and realms said to exist above. By better understanding the idea of a tiered afterlife, we can also gain insight into what qualities are often associated with spiritual advancement in different cultures.
The Seven Heavens in Islam
In Islam, the Quran and hadith literature describe the existence of seven samāwāt, or heavens. These seven heavens are believed to be layered above the earth and below the throne of God. The concept originated from pre-Islamic Arabian cosmology but was co-opted into Islamic theology.
The names and descriptions of the seven heavens have been debated by Islamic scholars over the centuries. But in general, they are understood as follows:
1. The first heaven is where the atmosphere and clouds reside. This level is also sometimes associated with epithets of God.
2. The second heaven contains the planets and stars. This cosmic realm is overseen by angels who make sure the celestial bodies follow their prescribed orbits.
3. The third level houses a paradise garden and the angelic steward Ridwan. The Quran describes a tree called Tuba that exists here.
4. The fourth heaven is supervised by angels who praise and glorify God. The Quran mentions a house of adoration called Bayt al-Ma’mur being present in this stage.
5. The fifth heaven has no specifically defined attributes. It is considered an intermediate realm between the lowest heavens and highest heavens.
6. The sixth heaven is where a record book of human deeds is kept. This level contains the angels closest to God called Munkar and Nakir.
7. The seventh heaven is the highest level which contains the throne of God (‘Arsh) and the divine lotus tree called Sidrat al-Muntaha.
Passing through these seven ascending heavens is said to bring souls closer to God. The higher levels are associated with the purest spiritual enlightenment. Only the most pious are believed to reach the seventh heaven and achieve the ultimate salvation of abiding near Allah.
The Three Heavens in Judaism and Christianity
The Hebrew Bible introduced the basic concept of stratified heavens which was then adopted into traditional Christianity. The Jewish and Christian scriptures describe three interlocking cosmic realms:
1. The first heaven represents the visible sky and space where birds fly and clouds reside. This level contains the cosmos of stars, planets, and other celestial objects.
2. The second heaven is where fallen angels and demonic forces operate. Biblical texts associate this level with spiritual warfare among angelic powers.
3. The third heaven is the dwelling place of God and the home of righteous souls who have been redeemed. The apostle Paul describes being caught up into the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. This highest realm is sometimes called the New Jerusalem or paradise.
In the Book of Revelation and other apocalyptic Christian writings, the third heaven contains levels and rooms that relate to closeness with God. For example, the Holy of Holies represents the inner sanctum where God’s presence fully resides. The concept of many rooms or mansions in heaven comes from John 14:2 where Jesus says: “In my Father’s house are many rooms.”
The 26 Heavens in Hindu Cosmology
Unlike the linear, vertical tiering of heavens found in Western faiths, the Hindu dharma conceives of concentric realms spreading outward in all directions. These realms constitute various lokas, or dimensions of existence through which souls transmigrate on the wheel of samsara.
Hindu texts generally describe 26 main lokas which can be grouped into three spheres:
1. The Bhu Loka contains the physical world we inhabit along with six underlying nether realms descending below the surface of the earth.
2. The Bhuvar Loka contains astral realms populated by spirits, semi-divine beings, and planets.
3. The Swarga Loka contains the celestial heavens or vaikuntha where the trimurti gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva reside along with demigods and highly virtuous souls.
Within Swarga, texts further subdivide the heavens into higher and lower tiers. For example, the chaturdasha bhuvan describes 14 heavenly realms. The highest realm is Satya Loka, the abode of Brahma, which transcends physical description.
Souls who have attained moksha or release from the cycle of rebirth are said to achieve an indescribable state of blissful unity with Brahman. This liberation is the ultimate goal in Hinduism.
The 31 Planes of Existence in Buddhism
Buddhism presents a cosmology of 31 levels of existence called bhava. These realms are categorized into three overarching zones:
1. The Sensuous Realm contains 11 levels inhabited by humans, animals, ghosts, demons, and carnal gods addicted to pleasure. Rebirth here is based on one’s karma.
2. The Form Realm contains 16 levels inhabited by devas who live in exalted meditation on form. Rebirth here is based on mastery of mental development and renunciation of passion.
3. The Formless Realm contains four levels inhabited by devas focused on meditation upon formless absorptions. Rebirth here is based on realization of immaterial states of being.
The lowest level is Naraka or hell realm of continuous torment. The highest level is the Akaniṣṭha or “highest” heaven reserved for those who have attained to the formless jhana absorptions.
In some Mahayana traditions, there are pure land heavens where buddhas and bodhisattvas reside, such as Sukhavati or Dewachen. The ultimate goal in Buddhism is to escape the wheel of cyclic existence completely and attain nirvana through following the eightfold path.
Common Themes About Higher Heavens
While faith traditions present different cosmologies, we can identify some common themes in their conceptions of the highest heavens:
– Higher heavens are associated with increasing holiness, wisdom, and closeness to the Divine. The highest realms go beyond physical description to capture the mystical unity between God and soul.
– Access to higher heavens is obtained by cultivating qualities like selflessness, detachment, enlightenment, and absorption in the Divine. Embodying these qualities loosens the ties to lower realms.
– Higher heavens transcend space and time. Descriptions represent attempts to capture timeless, infinite states of consciousness using metaphors.
– Angels and celestial beings inhabiting higher heavens have transcended earthly passions and weaknesses. They are devoted to worship, contemplation, and upholding divine harmony.
– The residents of higher heavens manifest the divine light in its fullest brilliance. Human souls gaining access to these realms reflect this light as they draw closer to the Source.
– The highest heavens represent complete liberation from the cycles of birth and death. This liberation is associated with existential joy, infinite wisdom, and absolute serenity.
So in summary, while specific counts differ, most mystical traditions describe a tiered series of higher heavens culminating in unity with the Divine. The heavens reflect developing levels of spirituality and degrees of closeness to the Source.
Conclusion
Human cultures have long imagined celestial realms and higher states of being where the virtuous dwell after death. While details differ between traditions, the common theme is that heavens are stratified into lower and higher tiers. The lower heavens remain somewhat connected to the familiar physical and astral planes. But the higher heavens represent complete liberation from worldly concerns and realization of the Divine. Each tradition offers its own metaphors to evoke the ineffable joy, wisdom, and transcendence associated with unity between Creator and created. While the specifics are uncertain, the leap of faith toward higher heavens inspires human beings to walk an upward path from the darkness into light.