Ten Interesting Versions Of Heaven From Religions Around The World

April 6, 2021 Posted inEverything Else

Ten Interesting Versions Of Heaven From Religions Around The World

Whether you believe in life after death or not, you have definitely heard of heaven
or probably hope to be there one day. Now, there are people who argue that one
person’s heaven may actually amount to another person’s hell, and that may be true
if you look at the different versions of heaven from various ancient and some
modern religions from around the world. This list has no particular bias against
any interpretation of heaven; it is just a look at the most interesting versions
from the various religions our ancestors subscribed to.

Vaikuntha-Hinduism
Reincarnation is a major part of Hinduism, but that is not all there is. A person
who has finished their cycles of dying and being reborn is believed to have
achieved a state of self-realization known as Moksha. If you have attained that
godly state, you will go to this Hindu heaven where there is no more darkness.

Vaikuntha is allegedly covered in pure gold, and it is the abode of everything

good. There is no ignorance nor suffering there. It is believed to have a bright
twelve-storey golden temple that shines like a thousand suns. Vaikuntha also flows
with rivers full of sweet nectar. The godly will reside in this temple with Vinshu
forever.

Elysium-Ancient Greece
In ancient Greece, most mortals that died simply went to hades and suffering there
depended on your deeds while you were alive. However, if you were favoured by the
gods, you could go to this special island at the end of the Earth called Elysium.

The writer Homer described it as the land where the dead enjoyed the ultimate
happiness forever with the gods and other immortals. If you entered Elysium, you
immediately became immortal. Some writings later described it as part of hades.
Elysium is considered the isle of the blessed and the virtuous men ruled over by
Kronos, son of Zeus.

Valhalla-Vikings
Historical Dramas like Vikings have made this version of heaven especially popular.
Those who went there had to be warriors that died in battle. They were welcomed
into the halls of Asgard by the Valkyries (maidens that work for the gods) to feast
alongside Odin and other warriors that died in battle before them.

Here, the slain warriors feast forever with Odin drinking unlimited ale that flows
from the udders of goats and meat from boars. They still have to fight one another
in preparation for doomsday but all their wounds or death here are reversed in the
evening so you cannot die again. Then on the day of Ragnarök or doomsday, they will
march out of Asgard to fight alongside Odin against the giants. Doesn’t sound like
an easy heaven to be in, does it?

Folkvangr- Vikings
While Valhalla was the most desirable heaven for the Vikings, it wasn’t the only
option; it is just one of the twelve halls in Asgard. The other desirable hall is
Folkvangr which is ruled over by the goddess Freyja and half of the warriors that
die in battle end up here.

It is not clear how those that end here and those that end up in Valhalla are
chosen, though. So while the other half feasts with the one-eyed Odin in Valhalla,
the rest of you will feast in the hall of Freya, the goddess of love and fertility.
She rides on a chariot drawn by two cats as she watches the warriors fight each
other in preparation for Ragnarök as well.

Ten Interesting Versions Of Heaven From Religions Around The World

The Otherworld-Ancient Celtics

In Celtic Mythology, there were lots of contradictory definitions of heaven, so the
people just called it the Otherworld. It was believed to be the abode of deities
that could have been far away or very close, depending on how close you were to the
deities. It was believed to be inhabited by the Fairy people and other supreme
beings who could not be seen by mortal eyes.

The Otherworld, however, revealed itself to humans at certain moments, especially

at night, and a few holy people could be admitted into it. Time there passes very
slowly, so a year there may be many centuries in this world. People in the
Otherworld also remain young forever. Some early Christian writers considered it
hell, though.

Cockaigne-Medieval Europe
If you are hoping for a place where wine flows forever and there is no shortage of
food, this will make a perfect heaven for you. It was also called Cockayne (the
land of plenty), believed by some to have been developed as an opposition to the
Christian version of heaven. Cockaigne was more of a dream than an actual heaven
believed to be a sweet land somewhere at the end of the globe where working was
forbidden. All you had to do was open your mouth, and you would be fed with
whatever you desired.

Tlalocan-Ancient Aztecs
The Aztecs believed that there were 13 different levels of heaven, but this one was
the most interesting. It was ruled over by Tlaloc, the god of rain and thunder. His
heaven was a place of eternal spring where all that died from drowning, lightning
strikes and other water-related deaths went. They would live there forever, with
Tlaloc enjoying an endless supply of food from edible plants. Tlaloc is still one
of the most widely accepted deities today from ancient Mesoamerican cultures.

Paradise-Zoroastrianism

Paradise-Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world believed to have shaped
Abrahamic religions, which is why their version of heaven is close to what these
religions believe in today. In Zoroastrianism, when a person dies, their soul
hovers around the world for three days while processing the shock of separation
from the body. Then the soul is met by a woman whose appearance depends on the
person’s deeds on Earth.

If you did more good than bad,
bridge into paradise, which is
that can be good; That is what
everything good you could ever
activities are there, though.
the woman appears beautiful and helps you cross a
the epitome of all good. Talk or imagine anything
paradise looks like. No strife, no suffering, just
wish for. There is little information on what

The Fields Of Aaru-Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was one of the hardest places to die. Once someone died, the soul
left the body and was guided by Anubis (Guide of the dead) to Osiris, who guards
the afterlife and 42 judges. The soul would then have to be judged against 42 sins,
after which it would be weighed on a golden scale against a feather.

If you committed too many sins, your heart would outweigh the feather, and you
would be eaten by Ammut, the female devourer, which meant eternal death or the
Great death for you. If you passed, you would be allowed to go through to the path
of the lake of the lilies, where you would meet many temptations and still had to
pass. If you passed, you would enter Aaru, the Field of Reeds, where you would meet
your loved ones and have your favourite dog, cat or any other animals you love and
live happily ever after.

Gan Eden-Judaism
According to Judaism, God created man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, where a
man lived in perfect bliss with God. That was disrupted when man sinned against
God, so when men die, they go to Sheol awaiting admission to a higher Garden of
Eden which will reappear at the end of time. The Garden will be beautiful with
streams of clean water flowing without stopping and fruits that bring fruits all
year round. Human beings that meet God’s requirement of holiness will live with God
in harmony forever.

10 Heavens Of World Mythologies

by Michael Van Duisen
fact checked by Jamie Frater
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Nearly every religion or mythology has a paradise which promises everlasting
rewards if its followers obey the rules. There are quite a few similarities between
them—mainly eternal youth, peacefulness, and an absence of evil or strife—but there
are quite a few differences as well.
10
Tlalocan
Aztec Mythologypintura_mural_tlalocan_palacio_tepantitla_teotihuacanFor the Aztec
people, Mictlan was the place where nearly all mortals went when they died,
regardless of how they lived. However, if certain conditions were met, the soul
could be granted access to other afterlives. One such place, known as Tlalocan, was
home to the rain god Tlaloc and was exclusively for those who died because of rain,
lightning, or various skin diseases, or were sacrificed to the deity. It was said
to be peaceful and full of flowers and dancing (makes sense with all that rain).
Those with physical deformities, who were said to be under the watch of Tlaloc,
were also granted access to the paradise. The souls of those who went to Tlalocan
frequently reincarnated, passing back and forth between realms.

9
Gan Eden
JudaismGanEden108aGan Eden (Hebrew for “the Garden of Eden”) is the final spiritual
plane in Judaism, where the souls of the righteous go to spend eternity with God.
It’s described as being 60 times better than what we experience on Earth and is the
counterpart of Gehanna, a kind of Jewish purgatory, where sinners go to purify
themselves of the wrongs they committed (most only have to stay there for 12 months
but the truly wicked never come out). It is sometimes compared to the Garden of
Eden in the Bible, but it is a distinct place which has never been seen by mortal
eyes.
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8
Fólkvangr
Norse Mythologykansas-to-valhallaMost people are probably familiar with Valhalla,
the heaven-like place where the souls of fallen warriors are taken in Norse
mythology. However, according to the myths, half of them were actually said to go
to a place called Fólkvangr, which translates as “field of the host” or “army
field.” This afterlife was ruled by Freyja and was supposedly a counterpart to
Valhalla. Very few literal descriptions of Fólkvangr have survived, but we do know
that it is where Freyja’s hall Sessrúmnir (“roomy seat”) is located, which itself
is described as “great and fair.” Women were also believed to be able to end up
there, even if they weren’t killed in battle.
7
The Fields Of Aaru
Egyptian Mythology800px-bd_weighing_of_the_heartaprilSometimes known as “the Fields
of Offerings” or even “the Elysian Fields,” Aaru was the land where Osiris dwelt
after having been resurrected from death. A number of gates, either 15 or 21, each
with its own guard, stood between the soul of a righteous person and Aaru. Once
they arrived, the souls would find themselves in a land of eternal peace, with
magnificent crops and “bread and beer of eternity,” which would never go stale.
Other physical comforts were abundant and men could have a number of wives and
concubines (No word on what women would get, if they could even get in). Aaru was
more or less exactly the same as the mortal world, just better.
6
Vaikuntha
HinduismvaikunthaThe ultimate destination for souls who have achieved moksha, or
“salvation,” Vaikuntha is the highest of heavens in Hinduism and is said to be the
place where Vishnu, the supreme god, resides. Upon arrival, the souls are granted
love and fellowship with Vishnu, which lasts for eternity. Everyone in Vaikuntha is
beautiful and young, especially the women, who are compared to Lakshmi, the Hindu
goddess of fortune. Animals and plants are infinitely better than their real-world
counterparts, and the denizens of Vaikuntha fly in airplanes, made out of lapis
lazuli, emerald, and gold. In addition, the forests have wish-giving trees,
specially designed for the inhabitants. Again, men would receive wives and consorts
as they pleased.
5
Tir Na Nog
Irish Mythology20110425234418_tir-na-nogKnown to the Irish as “The Land of the
Young,” Tir Na Nog was an island far out in the Atlantic Ocean which was said to be
a place of eternal happiness and youth. Mortals were normally banned from the
island but could reach it if they underwent an extreme trial or were invited by the
fairies that lived there. One such mortal was Oisín, who was said to be the
greatest poet in Ireland’s history. He traveled there with Níamh Chinn Óir, the
daughter of the king of Tir Na Nog, and they stayed together for 300 years—although
it only felt like one year to Oisín. Everything you could ever want was found on
the island. However, Oisín eventually grew homesick and left, dying when he
returned to Ireland.
4
The Otherworld
Celtic Mythologycliffs-of-mohrUnlike most depictions of heaven, the Celtic
Otherworld was said to be located on Earth, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
Sometimes, it is described as an island or chain of islands; other times, the
Otherworld is believed to exist beneath the ocean. It is an idealized mirror image
of Earth, where sickness, old age, famine, war, and all other evils of the world
are banished. The various deities of Celtic mythology are said to call the
Otherworld home and the souls of righteous humans interact with them for eternity.
In addition, unlike many of the other heavens on this list, mortals were said to
have occasionally visited the Otherworld.
3
Elysium
Greek Mythologyelysian-fields-1877Also known as the Elysian Fields, the Elysian
Plain, or the Islands of the Blessed, Elysium’s purpose changed over time for the
Greeks. At first, only those mortals who were given special favor by the gods were
allowed to enter, but eventually the invitation was extended to all good humans.
Homer described it as a place of perfection, without work or strife. Hesiod wrote
that “honey-sweet fruit” grows three times a year, nourishing the blessed. Later
Greek writers identified the islands of the eastern Aegean or other islands in the
Atlantic Ocean as possible real-world locations for Elysium. When reincarnation
began to take hold in Greek mythology, Elysium was sometimes split into tiers, with
a soul required to gain entry four times into Elysium before being permanently
taken to the Islands of the Blessed.
2
Cockaigne
Medieval European Mythology800px-Pieter_Bruegel_d._Ä._037Not associated with any
religion, Cockaigne was a mythical land much like heaven, where everyone got
whatever they wanted. Rivers of wine were said to flow through the land and the
houses and streets were made of pastries. Its location was rumored to be in the
Atlantic Ocean somewhere, and it was sometimes seen as an alternative to the
“boring” paradise of Christian heaven. Sexuality was extremely pronounced, and
nearly everyone engaged in some form of lewd activity (nuns and monks were
particularly singled out). In addition, no one needed to work, and there were roast
geese which would wander around, begging to be eaten. The American hobo myth of Big
Rock Candy Mountain is seen as an evolution of this idea.
1
Heaven
Christianitynature_clouds_heaven_019281_As the largest religion in the world,
Christianity’s version of heaven is pretty well known. Attributes like an absence
of sadness, war, or sin are common knowledge, as are the pearly gates, but there
are quite a few obscure elements which separate Christian heaven from other
depictions. For starters, the ultimate heaven isn’t a place yet; the Bible says
that a new Earth, where heaven will be, won’t be created until after Armageddon.
Until then, the dead are just sort of waiting in an intermediate heaven, feeling no
passage of time.The book of Revelation says that there will be a great city,
unparalleled in beauty, with walls made of precious jewels and streets made of
gold. God is said to dwell among the humans who make it to heaven, where they
worship him for eternity. There is a lot of debate over whether or not those in
heaven remember their lives, and the Bible is a little ambiguous on the subject,
but Jesus’s promise to see his disciples there has been taken as meaning they do.