Of Swayambhu Manu’s two sons, viz. Uttanapada and the illustrious Son Dhruva mentioned above; the second son Priyavrata married Kardama Muni’s daughter and begot seven sons and distributed to seven of his sons to Seven Dwipas viz. Jambu Dwipa, Pkalsha Dwipa, Shlaamala Dwipa, Kusha Dwipa, Krouncha Dwipa, Shaka Dwipa and Pushkara Dwipa. While Kshaara Samudra divides Jambu and Plaksha Dwipas,  Shlamala and Kusha Dwipas are stated to be divided by Ikshurasa Samudra; Shlamala and Kusha are surrounded by Madiraa Rasa Samudra; Kusha and Krouncha are divided by Ghrita Samudra; Krouncha and Shaka Dwipas are surrounded by  Ghee Samudra and the divider Samudra of Shaka and Dwipas is of Ksheera. Maharshi Parashara also described the Sapta Pataalaas too viz. Atala, Vitala, Nitala, Gabhastimaan, Mahatala, Sutala and Pataala. Sage Narada commended Patala as far more beautiful and luxurious compared to Swarga!

Ananta Deva Stuti: Maharshi Parashara made a very special reference to Ananta Sesha while describingPataala:

Pataalanamaadhas -chaastey Vishnoryaa taamasi tanuh,

Sheshaakhyaa yadgunaan vaktrum na shaktaa Daitya Danavaah/

Yonantah pathyatey Siddhaairdevo Devarshi pujitah,

Sa sahasra shiraa Vyaktaswastikaamala Bhushanah/

Phanaamani Sahastrena yah sa Vidyo-tayandishah,

Sarvaankaroti nirveeryaan hitaaya Jagatosuraan/

Madaghurnita netrosou yah Sadaivaika kundalah,

Kiritisnigdharobhaati saamagrih sweta ivaachalah/

Nilavaasaa Madiotsiktah Swetahaaropashobhitah,

Saabhra Gangaa pravaahosou  Kailaasaadririvaaparah/

Laangalaasakta hastaagro vibhranmusala–muttamam,

Upaasyatey swayam kaantyaa yo vaarunyaa cha Murtayaa/

Kalpaantey yasya Vaktrobhyo vishaanala shikkhojjwalah,

Sankarshanaatmako Rudro nishkramyaatti jaga-trayam/

Sa vibhracchekhari bhutamasesham kshiti mandalam,

Aastey Pataala mulasthah Seshoshesha Suraarchitah/

Tasya Veeryam prabhaavascha Swarupam Rupamevacha,

Na hi varneeyatum shakyam jnaatum cha Tridashairapi/

Yasyaishaa sakalaa prithvi Phanaamani shikhaarunaa,

Aastey kusuma maaeyva kastdveeryam vadishyati/

Yadaa Vijrumbhyateynanto Mada ghurnita lochanah,

Tadaa chalati Bhureshaa Saabhitoyaa sakaananaa/

Gandharvaa –psarasah Siddhaah Kinnaroraga chaaranaah,

Naantam Gunaanaam gacchanti teynaantoya- mavyayah/

Yasya Naagavadhu hastairlipitam harichandanam,

Muhurhuh Shvaasaanilaa -paastum yaati Dikshuvaasataam/

Yamaaraadhya Puraanaarshir Gargo jyoteeshim tatvatah,

Jnaatavaan sakalam chaiva nimitta pathitam phalam/

Teyneyam Naaga Varenyam shirasaa vidhrutaa Mahee,

Bibharti maalaam lokaanaam Sadevaasura maanusham/

(Bhagavan Vishnu’s Sesha named Vigraha replete with Tamo Guna lies underneath Paataala Loka whom Daityas nor Danavas could ever describe or realise. Siddha ganaas who are always engaged in worship to Devas name Sesha Deva as Anantaa as  he is adorned with Swastika Emblem on his hoods. Sesha Deva is also ornamented with invaluable and ever-sparkling diamonds on his thousand hoods which illuminate very far in the ten directions to the advantage of Lokas and also dissipate the might and strength of Asuraas. Sesha Deva is full of conceitand justified superiority and as such possessive of red and hot eyes dressed in blue clothing and wearing priceless white necklaces; he also has the speed of Ganga-Pravaha / flowakin to the huge Form of Kailasha Mountain! As in the Avatar of Bala Rama the brother of Shri Krishna, Sesha Deva also sports ‘Hala’(plough) and Musala as his armoury being always worshipped by Varuni Devi in his presence.At the termination of Kalapaas, Sesha Deva assumes the Form of Sankarshana Tamasika Rudra and by spreading his thousand hoods and emitting  wide spread poisonous flames all over the Universe tend to annihililate all the Beings! Staying in Patala Loka basically, Ananta Naga holds on the strength of his hoods the total weight ofthe Lokaas and is always worthy of one and all. His Bala-Veerya, Prabhava or Great Signifiance, Swarupa or Tatwa and Akaara or size and dimensions are unknown even to Debvatas. Who could indeed recognise the Bala-Veerya or Mightand Capacity of Sesha Deva excepting visualising the world-wide reach and dimensions of the red complexion emanated by the magnifinence of the ‘Manis’ on his hoods as materialised in the form of flower garlands  spread all over the world! As and when the flip-flops of the countless eye movements of Sesha Deva occur, all the forests, mountains and Seas get into momentum and the whole Earth too gets vigourously activised.Those of Gandharvas, Apsaras, Siddhaas, Kinnaraas, Nagas and Charanaas who were clueless of the endless significance of Sesha Deva called him Ananta or Infinite! As his breathing gets spread to ten directions, the most fragrant and alluring Harichandana that Naga maidens supplied and anointed on his body emanated far and wide. In the past, Maharshi Garg worshipped Ananta Deva and was bestowed the intricate knowledge and insight of Jyotirmandala or Astronomy or the movement of Nava Grahas and Stars as also of the fruits of  Shakuna-Apashakuna /good omens or otherwise. Sesha Naaga also carries  the brunt of Prithvi as also of the Pataalaas!)

Maharshi Parashara then went on describing the Narakaas  under Prithvi and Seas where almost all Beings after death are destined to reach to atone and pay back the Sins committed on the basis of their immediate and earlier births. The main Narakaas include Rourava, Sukara, Rodha, Taala, Vishasana, Mahajjwaala, Taptakumbha, Lavana, Vilohita, Rudhiraambha, Vaitarina, Kurmeesha, Krumibhojana, Asipatravana, Krishna, Laalaa Bhaksha, Daruna, Puyavaha, Paapa, Vahnijjwaala, Adhoshira, Sandamsha, Kaalasutra, Tamasa, Aavichi, Swabhojana, Apratishtha, Aprachi, and many other Mayaa bhayankara Narakas. In fact, there are innumerable other Narakas depending on the type, degree and seriousness of ‘Dushkrtutyas’ perpetrated. For various sins committed, there are some ‘Prayaschittaas’ or atonements, provided there would be a feel of regret and determination not to repeat the same. Among the ‘Paschatpaata prayaschitthaas’ or the regretful atonements, there could be Tapasyatmaka and Karmatmaka (meditational or action oriented deeds like homas, Daanaas,Vratas, Japaas and such other means) but the best one possible is ‘Krishna Smarana’.

Praatarnisha tathaaSandhyaa Madhyaahnaadishu Samsmaran,

Naraayanamavaapnoti Sadhyah Paapa Khayaantarah/

Vishnu samsmaranaateekshma samasta klesha samschayah,

Muktim prayaati Swargaaptistasya vighnornumiyatey/

Vaasudevo manoyasya  Japahomaarchanaadishu,

Tasyantaraayo Maitreya Devendrat –yaadikam phalam/

Kka naakapushtagamanam punaraavritti lakshanam,

Kka japo Vaasudeveti muktibeejamanuttamam/

(As and when persons recite or remember the Sacred name of Narayana either early morning, or evening, night or midday or ar any time, then and there the sins of small or big volumes get instantly thinned down or even cleared. Shriman Narayana smarana would certainly vanish sins and pave way for Swarga laabha or even Moksha Prapti and thus pit against any Vighna rupaas or impediments. Hey Maitreya! (as told by Parashara Maharshi) a person whose mind and deed are fully engaged in Japa-Homa-Archana and constant worship of Vaasudeva should not be merely content with Indraloka but aim at Moksha Prapti devoid of Punarjanma or relief from the cycle of death and re-birth!)