Originally posted by: fatssrilanka
Can you explain Pitra and Patal Lok?
The Bhagavata Purana describes Naraka as beneath the earth: between the seven realms of the underworld (Patala) and the Garbhodaka Ocean, which is the bottom of the universe. It is located in the South of the universe. Pitrloka, where the dead ancestors (Pitrs) headed by Agnivtt reside, is also located in this region. Yama, the Lord of Naraka, resides in this realm with his assistants.[2] The Devi Bhagavata Purana mentions that Naraka is the southern part of universe, below the earth but above Patala.[3] The Vishnu Purana mentions that it is located below the cosmic waters at the bottom of the universe.[4] The Hindu epics too agree that Naraka is located in the South, the direction which is governed by Yama and is often associated with Death. Pitrloka is considered as the capital of Yama, from where Yama delivers his justice.
http://devdutt.com/articles/indian-mythology/layers-of-the-hindu-world.html