What is a Loka?

[Mr. Talin Rowe asked: Greetings to You Shri Datta, and peace unto You. Attached are a few questions for you, I hope this email finds You well, My sincere thoughts of well-being and praise towards Yourself. Thank You for answering questions, You are the absolute best. - Talin Rowe.

Question on Lokas: What is a Loka? In the West this concept is generally unknown.

Swami replied:- Even west religions mention heaven and hell in this infinite space as other worlds. In Hinduism, heaven is a separate world (Loka), called Suvarloka. Hell is a sub-world of Bhuuloka and Bhuuloka consists of four sub-worlds:- 1) Martyaloka (earth), 2) Pretaloka (souls after leaving gross bodies on the earth are enquired here for ten days), 3) Naraka loka (hell), 4) pitruloka (where departed souls without fruits of merits and fruits of sins exist).