Hindu scriptures portray the universe not merely as a collection of planets and stars but as a complex and divinely orchestrated balance. According to the Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana, the vast universe rests on the multiple hoods of the cosmic serpent Sheshnag, who is depicted as residing on the turtle form of Lord Vishnu, in deep yoga sleep in the Kshir Sagar (ocean of milk). From Lord Vishnu's navel, a divine lotus emerges, where Lord Brahma resides, and it is this lotus that symbolizes the expansion of the entire universe across the 14 realms, with 7 realms in the above and 7 in the below.

The upper 7 realms include Brahmaloka, the highest realm where Lord Brahma and Goddess Saraswati dwell, purportedly the origin of all creation. Below Brahmaloka lies Tapoloka, home to divine sages who engage in intense spiritual practices. The realm includes Janaloka where great sages like Sanak and Sanandan reside, who are revered for their innate wisdom from birth. This is followed by Maharloka, famous for its sages like Bhargava, where sacrifice and knowledge flourish, and culminates in Swargaloka, the heavenly realm of Indra.

Each of these realms has its unique characteristics and significance in Hindu cosmology, elucidating a grand narrative of how existence operates in a holistic framework, vital to understanding Hindu belief systems encompassing the relationship between the divine and the universe.