[14][15] In the Kathāvatthu, one of the earliest Buddhist writings written around 250—100 BCE, a version of hell is fully developed, described, and discussed.

[21] If the understanding of these dates is correct then the idea of Buddhist hell is prior to the ones in Mediterrenean cultures, however, both communicated with one another over the sea and land.

This is the designated realm for those who commit acts of violence and murder with the clear intent of killing living beings, out of a desire to destroy their source of life.

As soon as the being experiences an unconsciousness like death, they are suddenly restored to full health as a cold wind revives them and the attacks begin anew.

[11] Other tortures experienced in this Naraka include: having molten metal dropped upon them, being sliced into pieces, and suffering from the heat of the iron ground.

[32][35] Kālasūtra (Sanskrit: कालसूत्र; Chinese: 黑繩地獄; pinyin: Hēishéng Dìyù; Japanese: 黒縄地獄, romanized: Kokujō Jigoku), the "Black Thread" Naraka, includes the torments of Sañjīva.

[36] In addition, black lines are drawn upon the body, which hell guards use as guides to cut the beings with fiery saws and sharp axes.

One example is the Region of Equal Wailing and Reception of Suffering, where the inmates tied to black ropes that are on fire and fall into swords below.

While climbing, hot sword-leaves slice into the body, but the inmate is filled with so much desire that they reach the top, discovering that the woman is below the tree beckoning them down.

Men who kidnap the women of others are hung upside down from a tree and roasted under a fire that enters their mouths and burns their insides as they try to scream.

[51] This increases the anger of these demons and they pry open the mouths of the prisoners with pincers to pour molten copper into it that destroys their organs.

[52][53][54] The primary reason for being reborn into this realm of hell is the improper intake and use of intoxicants in combination with acts of killing, stealing and sexual indulgence.

[57] In the minor Hell of Unbearable Pain those who committed perjury or bribery are tormented by having snakes be born inside of their bodies.

[58] Subsidiary hells include the Region for Receiving the Suffering of Being Stabbed by a Spearhead where hot iron needles are thrust into the mouths and tongues of the inmates.

[59][60] Tapana (Sanskrit: तपन; Chinese: 焦熱／炎熱地獄; pinyin: Jiāorè/Yánrè Dìyù; Japanese: 焦熱／炎熱地獄, romanized: Shōnetsu/Ennetsu Jigoku), the "Heating" Naraka,[61] is where hell guards impale the residents on a fiery spear until flames issue from their noses and mouths.

These obstacles include the rejection of the laws of karma and the existence of good and evil, which the historical Buddha considered to be bad for people to take personal responsibility.

[67][69][70] These hells showcase that while Buddhism had tolerance for other religions, some sutra clearly condemn beliefs and practises that are different from what the historical Buddha taught.

[70] Pratāpana (Sanskrit: प्रतापन; Chinese: 大焦熱／大炎熱／極熱地獄; pinyin: Dàjiāorè/Dàyánrè/Jírè Dìyù; Japanese: 大焦熱／大炎熱／極熱地獄, romanized: Daishōnetsu/Daiennetsu/Gokunetsu Jigoku), the "Great Heating" Naraka,[71] is where demons with black bellies, flaming eyes, and hooked teeth haunt the ones reborn, grabbing the residents by the throat and dragging them through mountains, cities and across oceans.

Those who seduce laywomen are made to suffer within the Hell of String-like Worms by being tied and lied down on a blazing floor on which iron hooks are attached.

[75] Avīci (Sanskrit: अवीचि; Chinese: 無間／阿鼻地獄; pinyin: Wújiàn/Ābí Dìyù; Japanese: 無間／阿鼻地獄, romanized: Mugen/Abi Jigoku), the "Uninterrupted" Naraka,[76] is deepest of the Eight Hot Hells.

[27] The Avici naraka is located at the bottom of the Realm of Desire and as the ones are in states between rebirths and destinied to go into this hell, they cry out: There is nothing but flames.

Additional sufferings consist of pulling out the tongues and letting them swallow an iron ball and molten bronze while forcing the mouth open with pincers.

[82][83] In his Ōjōyōshū Genshin describes a couple of subsidiary hells to this one, starting with the depiction of the Region where Iron Foxes are Fed.

There are eleven fires in the shape of towers that burn anyone who comes close and wardens with swords that slash sinners in this region while they put molten pewter into the wounds.

[80] This sin also consists of taking the chance of others to reach enlightenment[90] and destroying part of oneself under the working of the Dependent Origination (Pratītyasamutpāda).

cháng āhán jīng 長阿含經),[94] was translated to Chinese in 22 fascicles from an Indic original by Buddhayaśas (Fotuoyeshe 佛陀耶舍) and Zhu Fonian 竺佛念 in 412–13 CE.

The fourth varga, which pertains to Buddhist cosmology,[96] contains a "Chapter on Hell" (dìyù pǐn 地獄品) within the Scripture of the Account of the World (shìjì jīng 世記經).

In this text, the Buddha describes to the sangha each of the hells in great detail, beginning with their physical location and names:佛告比丘: 「此四天下有八千天下圍遶其外.復有大海水周匝圍遶八千天下.復有大金剛山遶大海水.金剛山外復有第二大金剛山.二山中間窈窈冥冥.日月神天有大威力.不能以光照及於彼.彼有八大地獄.其一地獄有十六小地獄.第一大地獄名想.第二名黑繩.第三名堆壓.第四名叫喚.第五名大叫喚.第六名燒炙.第七名大燒炙.第八名無間.其想地獄有十六小獄.小獄縱廣五百由旬.第一小獄名曰黑沙.二名沸屎.三名五百丁.四名飢.五名渴.六名一銅釜.七名多銅釜.八名石磨.九名膿血.十名量火.十一名灰河.十二名鐵丸.十三名釿斧.十四名犲狼.十五名劍樹.十六名寒氷.

[100] Descriptions of the naraka are a common subject in some forms of Buddhist commentary and popular literature as cautionary tales against the fate that befalls evildoers and an encouragement to virtue.

[105] The purpose of his descriptions of the extreme suffering in Naraka could be to convince people of the teachings and practices of Pure Land Buddhism and stop their clinging onto the transmigratory existence in samsara.