some extra info..
Celestial Cities
Sanskrit Puranas recount how 8 celestial cities surround the great
golden city of Mount Meru om the peak of the world's cosmic
mountain. The 3 chief hindu gods, Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, dwell
in Mt meru.
Each of the 8 cities is a realm of a particular god and quality,
and each has a specific cardinal or inter-cardinal direction. The
gods of these cities are collectively known as the lopalalas, the
guardians of the directions.
EAST - City of Sakra or Amaravati, home of Indra, king of the gods;
realm of the primary superintendent gods, the 14 ray masters of the
Great Bear: Mount Olympus.
SOUTHEAST - City of Tejovati, realm of the fire god, Agni; realm of
the wild untamed sun god, prototype of time: Mithraeum.
SOUTH - City of Samyamani, realm of Yama, Lord of Death; equivalent
of the Greek Hades, King of the Dead, transition point out of
planetary spheres: Underworld.
SOUTHWEST - City of Nirrti or Raksovati, realm of the Raksasas,
Nagas, and cosmic serpent, Ananta-Sesa; primordial creative energy:
Naga City
WEST - City of Suddhavati, domain of King Varuna; also known as the
western Paradise, Blessed Isles, realm of the spiritual hierarchy:
Shambhala.
NORTHWEST - City of Gandhavati, domain of King Vayu, Lord of the
Winds, realm of the Gandharvas and Apsaras; prototype of spacetime:
Avalon.
NORTH - City of Sankara, Yasovati, or Lanka, realm of Kubera, lord
of wealth and endless riches; deep cosmic memory: Grail
Castle.
NORTHEAST - City of Soma or Kantimati, the Moon God, source of the
Elixir of Immortality culled from the Ocean of Milk; prototype of
Space; Soma Temple.
