Durgati

durgati (P. duggati; T. ngan 'gro; C. equ 惡趣) is translated as “unfortunate destinies,” "bad transmigration," "miserable existence," "lower rebirths," "lower realms," etc. This refers to the unfortunate or unfavorable rebirths (apāya) that occur as a consequence of performing unwholesome actions (akuśalakarmapatha).

Buddhist literature typically identifies a list of three (and sometimes four) unfortunate rebirth destinies. The three unfortunate destinies mentioned in all texts are:

• hell denizens (nāraka),
• hungry ghosts (preta), and
• animals (tiryak).

Some texts also include the demi-gods (asura) among the durgati.

See also

• akuśala
• rebirth
• Buddhist cosmology
• Six classes of beings

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• ngan 'gro, Christian-Steinert Dictionary