In Hinduism it is the world or plane or spiritual force or self-conscious energy, considered to be achieved by means of the practice of austerities. It is a Sanskrit compound word, sometimes written tapar-loka, formed of the words TAPAS (“heat,” “penance,” or “austerity,” but having the deeper meaning of “spiritual power” ) and loka (“world”). It is also known as the sixth loka of seven and is referred to in the introduction to the GAYATRI. Some consider it equivalent to heaven, others, more plausibly, consider it equivalent to the BUDDHIC plane of theosophical terminology.

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