Underworld
The underworld is generally defined as a part of the world "below" in the prevailing world view. Depending on the culture, the underworld has different aspects, but usually there is a ruler from a chthonic deity who presides over it. The underworld is often identified with the interior of the earth, as Dante Alighieri described it in his "Divine Comedy".
Mythologies of all cultures describe this world realm that lies outside the mortal world. This is where the dead or their souls are believed to be, which is why people often speak of the realm of the dead or the world of the dead. The term largely coincides with that of hell, whose name is derived from the underworld goddess Hel from Germanic mythology. The ancient Greeks called the underworld Hades (Greek: Ἅιδης) after its ruler. Among the Hebrews the underworld is called Sheol (Hebrew: שאול) and in Islam Jahannam (Arabic جهنم, DMG ǧahannam). In Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism, the corresponding Sanskrit word is Naraka (Sanskrit: नरक) or Narakaloka. The lord of the underworld here is the god of the dead, Yama, which is why the term Yama loka is often used as an equivalent to Naraka.
Literature
- Rudolf Steiner: Über die astrale Welt und das Devachan, GA 88 (1999), ISBN 3-7274-0880-4 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Geisteswissenschaftliche Menschenkunde, GA 107 (1988), ISBN 3-7274-1070-1 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Das Prinzip der spirituellen Ökonomie im Zusammenhang mit Wiederverkörperungsfragen, GA 109 (2000), ISBN 3-7274-1090-6 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Menschenwerden, Weltenseele und Weltengeist – Erster Teil, GA 205 (1987), ISBN 3-7274-2050-2 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
- Rudolf Steiner: Das Geheimnis der Trinität, GA 214 (1999), ISBN 3-7274-2140-1 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
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References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF. |
