@lilli @sathariel @k hell in dharmic religions is also generally located beneath the Earth, but I dont believe "underworld" is literal just like we can't see the ocean of milk in the vedic sense. in the particular cosmologies of dharmic religions there are various numberings of hell realms (in Hinduism usually 28) but I don't buy that humans know Gods systemizations of heavens and hells, I think theyre countless.

youd like the story of Ajamila. hes a sinful brahmin, who upon his death is pursued by the agents of Yama the God of death who rules over the underworld. They aim to drag his soul to hell. As he is dying Ajamila calls out the name of his son Narayana, which is also a name/lying on a snake in the ocean form of the Supreme God Vishnu. Upon hearing the name of their Lord, the servants of Vishnu protect Ajamila, and say that because he called upon the name of the Lord, even though he wasn't referring to God but to his son, Ajamilas sins are wiped clean. Ajamila sees this dialogue between the two and repents and by this achieves liberation.